London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill

moved Amendment No. 33:"Page 5, line 12, at end insert ““, and" (   )   the authority shall ensure that adequate arrangements are made for the provision of premises, plant, systems, facilities and any other thing required by the police for the safety of persons and security”” The noble Baroness said: Clause 6 is welcome, but it does not appear to recognise the need for infrastructure to meet the clause’s objectives of security and safety. When speaking to an amendment two days ago, I said that I was not mischief-making; nor am I doing so here. This amendment came to me unprompted from the Metropolitan Police Authority, which asked me to raise issues of concern, not about providing security, but about implementing its security duties. The authority regards it as important that policing infrastructure is woven into the venues to ensure that an integrated approach is taken to providing security. It gives examples of requirements within the Olympic village and venues such as control rooms for public order, IT infrastructures, police contact points, rest facilities for officers and facilities to support the policing of the periphery. It also mentions custody complexes to accommodate those—I am sure there will be some—who are detained, suitable facilities for interpreters and those from the criminal justice system, local storage facilities, and equipment to respond to incidents, such as public order kit, crowd barriers, medical supplies and so on, which will need storage. In connection with transport facilities, the authority refers to control rooms and officer facilities at new key routes, the need for expansion of IT infrastructure and the positioning of CCTV and other cameras. The MPA may acknowledge that that can be covered through other parts of the Bill, but it is obviously worth including it to show the total picture. Finally, it mentions catering, as there will obviously be a need to fuel the high number of police deployed. The MPA comments that planning consents have been granted in connection with many of the facilities and venues but that no provision has been made for any of these needs. It believes that such an amendment to the Bill would assist in ensuring that those involved with the venues and undertaking the developments on the periphery focus on the need to make suitable provision for policing. In summary, such provision will be best made if it is a part of the planning process and not an add-on in two or three years’ time, or even closer to the games. I hope that I can pass on to the MPA and to the Met the fact that the Minister has been helpful in assuring us that they will be supported in ways which some of us might not initially have thought of but which are clear concerns. I beg to move.