UK security capabilities geared up for 2024 Paris Olympics

Above: The London Olympics Official 2012 logo in Trafalgar Square.
Image By Lucian Milasan / Shutterstock

Staging London 2012 involved the largest peacetime security operation in Britain since 1945, giving the wide range of UK companies involved in delivering the Games invaluable experience in tackling the challenges presented by an event of this unique scale and complexity.

ADS Security & Resilience Sector Director Hugo Rosemont said: “The UK is home to a world-leading security and resilience sector, and the London Olympics has given us a legacy of expertise in delivering major public events and overcoming the security challenges they present.

“There is already a long history of Anglo-French security cooperation, with recent examples including the Lancaster House Treaty signed nine years’ ago and Eurotunnel’s joint border controls.

“We are ready to support Paris 2024, bringing strengths in venue security, command and control, as well as our fast-growing and internationally successful capabilities in data and cyber security.”

The 21st Milipol Paris is being held this week, with 1,100 exhibitors and more than 30,000 visitors. ADS is hosting the UK Pavilion, with 14 companies from its security and resilience sector exhibiting. Hugo Rosemont’s keynote speech 'Lessons from the London Olympic Games', takes place at the exhibition this afternoon.

Companies exhibiting in the UK Pavilion at Milipol Paris this week cover capability areas including X-ray imaging, bomb disposal and countermeasures, forensic science, cyber security, CBRN and drone countermeasures.

ADS members who were involved in delivering major event security for London 2012, and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, include:

•    Airbus, whose Maintenance Mission Control Center in Oxford supported an estimated 7000 flight hours of police and security air units during the Games.
•    Smiths Detection, which supplied advanced detection systems for a temporary terminal in Heathrow for athletes and Games officials. 
•    ECS Special Projects Ltd, whose VAL non-lethal Vessel Arrest System was used by the Marine Security Services in Weymouth for 2012 Games harbour security.
•    Leonardo, who acted as protective perimeter security provider at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, winning Major Events International award for most significant security technology contribution at a recent major event.