Lords call for Olympic security boost

It also slammed the UK's "unacceptably low" involvement in international training exercises on biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) strikes since the turn of the millennium.

The report states: "There is considerable public interest about security issues at the Olympic Games in 2012, but most of it is confined to the Olympic venue itself.

"Not much is heard about security in the five London boroughs which are hosting the Games, and which seem to us to be at least as vulnerable."

As part of a committee report on civil protection and crisis management in the European Union, committee members interviewed representatives of the EU and British government in mid-January.

It learned there had not yet been contact between the Government and the EU's Monitoring and Information Committee, which co-ordinates member responses to major emergencies such as the Mumbai terrorist attack and has assisted with security for previous Olympics and the Rugby World Cup.

Hans Das, the deputy head of the Civil Protection Unit said: "We are four years away from the Games but I am absolutely certain that we will be involved in that."

But Lord Jopling, chairman of the Lords EU sub-committee on Home Affairs said: "It is increasingly clear that the 2012 Olympics could be a prime target for terrorists.

"It is vital that the Government takes every possible step to ensure that other EU Member States are fully prepared to assist the UK in the case of a potential attack.

"We are surprised that this process is not already in hand, and we recommend the Government begin liaising with the MIC as a matter of urgency."

The Lords committee also criticised reports that the UK has been involved in only 11 of 31 EU or NATO CBRN anti-terror exercises between 2000 and 2008. It has deployed full teams to only one EU exercise, and to no NATO events.

The report said: "This is a country more susceptible than most to terrorist attacks, including perhaps CBRN attacks.

"The United Kingdom should be playing a full part in all major EU and NATO exercises. We find the current level of United Kingdom participation unacceptably low."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We have made a commitment to the International Olympic Committee to take all the 'financial, planning and operational measures' necessary to ensure a safe and the peaceful 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"The Olympic and Paralympic Safety and Security Strategy, approved by Ministers last month, has been developed by the Office of Security and Counter Terrorism in the Home Office in association with Government Olympic Executive, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), the office of the London Mayor, the security and emergency services and a wide range of other Government departments and agencies.

"The Government has also endorsed an outline 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Safety and Security National Concept of Operations which describes how the strategy will be delivered. The Concept of Operations will evolve as work is completed on the broader Olympic infrastructure and as LOCOG and others develop their Concept of Operations for the Games as a whole.

"We will be engaging with a range of organisations with relevant knowledge and experience as part of the planning process."