By Tom Degun at the Main Press Centre on the Olympic Park in London

Chris Allison_16-07-12July 16 - Chris Allison, the Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner and National Olympic Security Coordinator, claimed today he is entirely confident with security plans for London 2012 despite contractors G4S admitting they cannot meet their obligations, forcing the military to be drafted in.

G4S revealed last week that it could not provide the required numbers of guards at the Olympics and Paralympics, forcing the Government to commit 3,500 military personnel to fill the security void for London 2012 following the orders from Home Secretary Theresa May to the Ministry of Defence.

The failure to meet their contractual obligations could cost G4S around £50 million ($78 million/€64 million) while it has done huge damage to their reputation in the field but Allison insisted that London 2012 will be a safe and secure Games despite the late disruptions.

"The basic security plan is exactly the same as we have had for the last three or four years," Allison (pictured above, second right) said here at a press conference.

"We are just going to have, in some cases, different people delivering it.

"But my thinking is that you only need to look at the security around the Olympic Park right now.

"It is up and running very well and it is exactly what we want it to be.

"As you come into the Olympic Park, you can see G4S staff working alongside the military at the various search areas doing a really, really good job.

"So I'm entirely confident that the right people will be in place doing exactly what they need to do.

"The Games will be safe and secure."

london 2012_military_16-07-12
Allison added that the security presence around London 2012 will blend into the background once the Olympics get underway on July 27.

"During the Games, you won't be paying any attention to us and you won't notice us because we'll just be part of the backdrop," he insisted.

"The focus will be where it should be, which is on the athletes who are competing at the Games."

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