London 2012 Olympics: Arena security cash released

Image caption, Security will be a key priority at Olympic venues across the UK

Olympics organisers have been allocated 拢280m by the government to beef up security at venues being used in 2012.

The sum, part of the overall 拢9.3bn Games budget, will fund measures such as bag screening, fencing and perimeter searches at the various UK venues.

Separately, the 拢600m Olympic safety and security budget could be trimmed to 拢475m thanks to 91热爆 Office savings.

Security Minister Baroness Neville-Jones insisted: "Olympic safety and security has been prioritised."

The coming year will see venues handed over to London 2012 as the organisers press ahead with test events and plans to stage the games.

Although much of the Games' focus will be on the new Olympic Park at Stratford, east London, several other locations are hosting events.

Football stadia being used include Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and Hampden Park in Glasgow, while other sports taking place outside London include sailing at Weymouth, Dorset, and mountain biking in Essex.

Releasing the extra money and the potential future savings is not expected to compromise plans or put the public at risk, a 91热爆 Office spokesman said.

Responsibility for venue security is split between London 2012 and the government.

In a statement to the Lords, Lady Neville-Jones said safety and security for the 2012 Games is well advanced and on schedule.

Some 拢600m was budgeted for the core Olympic security programme in 2007 and the government said it would still make this sum available, although savings identified could bring the total spend down to about 拢475m. This does not include the 拢280m for venue security.

Beyond the 拢134m which will have been spent by the 91热爆 Office by the end of the current financial year, the 91热爆 Office will provide 拢107m in 2011/12 and 拢192m in 2012/13, primarily for the police service to meet Olympic safety and security costs.

This is on top of core police funding and the contributions being made by other government departments.

The statement to Parliament says: "91热爆 Office funding includes a very substantial financial provision for contingencies."

A further Olympic contingency of around 拢500m is available for cross-programme issues, which could address any "material change" in the security situation, it says.

Much of the 拢1.1bn being set aside for counter-terrorism policing will be devoted to the Olympics in 2012, the statement adds.