British police bound for the Paris Olympics

BRITISH police officers will be sent to Paris this summer to support the huge security operation surrounding the Olympic Games, it has been confirmed.

Scores of officers from forces across the country are expected to travel to France to help keep athletes and spectators safe at the event which begins in 100 days’ time on July 26.

Counter-terrorism specialists and military units will also be on hand to support their French counterparts.

Senior police officers involved in the security operations surrounding London 2012, the Queen’s funeral and the King’s coronation will play a key role and will share their expertise with the organisers of the Paris games.

More than 35,000 police and gendarmes are expected to be mobilised each day during the Olympics, with an extra 10,000 drafted in for the opening ceremony on July 26.

While the exact number of British officers who will be present on the ground during the Olympics is yet to be confirmed, it is thought they will be drawn from forces across the country and will include volunteer special constables and specialist dog handlers.

The arrangement is similar to one that was put in place ahead of London 2012, which saw French police officers on the streets of the capital to support the security operation.

Paris has been the scene of a number of terror attacks in recent years including at the Bataclan theatre in 2015 when Islamist extremists killed 130 people.

In December, a German tourist died and two others, including a British man, were injured when a suspected jihadist carried out a knife and hammer attack close to the Eiffel Tower.

Rising tensions in the Middle East will further heighten concern that the showcase event could become a target for terrorists and intelligence agencies across the world will be liaising closely in the coming months.