Olympics a target for criminal networks, police warn

Published on 08/07/2009 22:02

INTERNATIONAL organised criminal networks are already preparing to target the London 2012 Olympics, a senior police officer has warned.

Scotland Yard Deputy Assistant Commissioner Janet Williams said officers are probing a series of front companies that could be used in complex frauds.

Ms Williams, who is responsible for leading the fight against electronic crime, said the multi-billion pound sporting extravaganza is a tempting target for criminals.

She said officials saw similar conspiracies during the Beijing Olympics and work is under way to protect the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Ms Williams said: "There is a lot of work to be done with e-crime and the Olympics. We need to get the money sorted and there is an imperative about that now.

"We know from Canada and Beijing that the threats are real and they have grown in the last six months."

Ms Williams said criminals may be preparing sophisticated electronic attacks on athlete protection arrangements, the transport infrastructure, sponsorship deals and ticketing.

She added: "These are all potentially subject to abuses and we need to understand these and put plans in place very quickly now.

"That is a projected area of work and it is where e-crime meets the more significant threats and terrorism threats."

Ms Williams was speaking at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) annual conference in Manchester.

She said investigators need "to move from business as usual to an extra amount of effort" as the Games come closer.