An average of 115 people a day will carry the Olympic Torch from the start of the Relay in Land's End on May 19 before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on July 27 for the Opening Ceremony, but there are fears that the event could be disrupted.

Such an occurrence happened in the lead up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics when violent protests in major international cities, including London, occurred over China's human rights record and foreign policies regarding Tibet.

During the protests in London, some campaigners hurled themselves into the path of the Torchbearers, while others tried to grab the Torch or put out the Olympic Flame out with a fire extinguisher.

But Broadhurst, who was in charge of policing for the London leg of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, feels that the police force set to be in place to protect the Torchbearers will counter any threat and insists that attention seekers rather than protesters actually pose the greatest problem.

"I think the biggest threat will be attention seekers, somebody trying to run alongside and grab a bit of the glory," said Broadhurst following a demonstration of how the police team would deal with a variety of potential situations at a training centre in north London.

"I'm sure we'll get the odd protest every now and then up and down the country."

The 28 specially trained police officers, who have been chosen after a rigorous selection process, will take turns to run alongside the Torchbearers for as long as 12 hours a day.

"We can scale it up if we think the threat deserves it," continued Broadhurst.

"We'll be as tough and robust as we need to be."


On its journey, the torch will pass through England's major cities, the capitals of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as remote outposts including the Isle of Lewis.

Dublin has also been confirmed as a stop on June 6 following special permission after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned host cities from taking the Olympic Torch outside their own countries following the protests during the Beijing 2008 relay.

But London will be under the biggest spotlight in terms of security following the four days of intense rioting last August which saw the worst public disorder incidents in the English capital in decades.

The Olympic Torch will travel around London from July 21 until 26 but James Brokenshire (pictured top left), the Minister for Security at the Home Office, is confident Britain is prepared and that it will not face the same problems as the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay.

"Whilst we don't expect this to be a protest event, it's right and proper that we are prepared," Brokenshire said.

"We recognise during the course of the Games and also on the relay itself, the eyes of the country and of the world will be on us."

However, Anjem Choudary, a leading Islamist campaigner who has been involved in numerous high-profile demonstrations over the last decade, said the Torch rallies could be a target.

"Any opportunity to pass on the message will be taken full advantage of," he warned.

"If there are foreign dignitaries for example from Israel or from some of the other countries where Muslims are being tortured, to do demonstrations against them and where they may be staying, I think that will be high on the agenda."

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