Taxpayer to foot bill for cops’ Olympics trip

From the Essex Echo today:
Two senior police officers will travel to the Beijing Olympics at taxpayers’ expense.

Essex Police Authority agreed to send the force’s Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lowton and Supt Simon Williams to China for two to three weeks at a cost of thousands.

The cash for the trip was agreed by the authority’s finance and audit committee.

In a report of the meeting the authority said it was sending the two officers ahead of the London 2012 Olympics so they can “learn a great deal about staging a major event”.

The cheapest flights to Beijing found by the Echo during the Olympic game season, from August 8 to August 24, cost more than £530 for a return, and that does not include money for accommodation.

Bizarrely, despite the fact the trip was confirmed in the minutes of the meeting and by the police authority, the force would not confirm the officers’ trip.

Donna Veasey, of Essex Police said: “It is still to be confirmed anyone from Essex Police will be attending the Beijing Olympic games.”

But Robert Chambers, chairman of Essex Police Authority, confirmed and defended the trip. He said: “I would be the first to say if I thought it was a waste of money. I don’t like wasting taxpayers’ money.

“Mr Lowton is going out there to assess the Olympics for Essex Police’s point of view with regard to the heavy involvement we will have in both 2012 and before then, with the various training exercises.

“We haven’t had the Olympics in this country for 64 years, so I think we are a little bit out of date with how things work.

“The police are very much vital to the running of any international competition and I think it is right and proper someone should assess the problems and issues that could arise.

“You get organisations that send half a dozen people out to things like this, but we are only sending two people I think, who can have a genuine impact.

“This could save us money in the long run – if we can put measures in place now that could save us in the future.”

Essex Police already has a London 2012 planning team and a part-time member of staff who works with the Olympic Security Directorate.