Emergency services prepare for Olympic Torch Relay

Emergency services across Wales came together for a mock safety and security exercise at the Millennium Stadium.

The exercise formed part of ongoing preparations to host the Olympic Torch Relay in 2012.

Led by Deputy Chief Constable Colette Paul of South Wales Police, representatives from the four Welsh police forces worked with colleagues from the Fire and Ambulance Service, the Welsh Asembly Government and local authorities to test how agencies will work with each other and communicate with the public during the Torch Relay.

The Olympic Flame enters Wales on May 25th 2012 for four days, with overnight stays in Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth and Bangor.

The local exercise on Tuesday, July 19 was held in addition to the wider national testing and exercising programme developed by the Home Office and supported by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), the police and other partners.

During the day, the group worked through a range of mock scenarios in line with plans to test against any potential hazards that may arise during the Olympic period.

DCC Colette Paul, commander for policing the Games in Wales said:

“With the Games a year out and the Torch Relay just ten months away, it is important we take every opportunity to learn together to make sure our operation in 2012 is the best it can be.

South Wales Police participated in “Exercise Blue Alpha” at the beginning of July, a national exercise to test command and control structures and communication between agencies in preparation for the Games.

Over 250 delegates from the Home Office, Government, LOCOG, the emergency services and partner agencies across the UK were involved.

DCC Paul added: “These partnership exercises are important to ensure our responses to the needs of the public during the Olympic Games are effective, and we want to reassure our communities that our preparations are robust.

“We are working hard to become operationally-ready and will be participating in further safety and security exercises with national colleagues as part of the wider testing and exercising programme.”

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