The 2012 Games will require the biggest peacetime policing operation ever and, like every force across the country, Wiltshire Police will be playing its part.

The celebrations begin with the arrival of the OlympicTorch in the UK on 18 May 2012. The Olympic Flame is coming to Wiltshire as part of its journey around the UK and this provides our county with a unique opportunity to take part in this historic and exciting event.

The 2012 Olympics official opening ceremony takes place on 27 July 2012 and the Games will continue through to 9 September 2012, when the Paralympic Games close.

Local and National involvement

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG)

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is responsible for preparing and staging a memorable Games in the summer of 2012 and for the safety of people in all venues.

Whilst LOCOG has final responsibility for planning and executing the Olympic Torch Relay, the Organising Committee is working in close partnership with Local Authorities across the country, including Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council, to ensure that safety is a key consideration in all event planning and management.

Wiltshire Police

Planning for the policing of events taking place during 2012 has been underway for some time and Wiltshire Police are fully engaged with our partners in the Local Authorities and other agencies to ensure that we have the resources and plans in place to enable our local communities to enjoy this historic moment safely whilst maintaining a normal service throughout the county.

The Games are a sporting event, not a security event, and we are putting in place policing and security plans that are reassuring and visible but discreet. Our aim is to police in a way that is consistent across the country and keeps the sporting and cultural events centre-stage during this historic occasion. Chris Allison, Assistant Commissioner Olympics and Paralympics, Metropolitan Police Service.

Assistant Commissioner Allison is the National Olympic Security Coordinator (NOSC), coordinating locally delivered Olympic policing and wider safety and security activity both in preparation for, and during the Games.

Organising community events

For information on how to organise a community event or to find out what’s happening across the county, please contact Wiltshire Council or Swindon Borough Council.

Wiltshire Council has produced a toolkit that is available to the public to provide guidance on how to hold a street party or community event, and how to participate in the Torch Relay. To download this toolkit, visit http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityandliving/2012celebrations.htm

Key contacts and useful information

Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council Community Events Toolkit
Wiltshire Council Events Calendar
Wiltshire Council’s Team Wiltshire
Team South West
Swindon Borough Council
London 2012