Blueprint for £600m security at Games

MINISTERS were today preparing to unveil the first details of the £600million security blueprint for the London Olympics after more than a year of delay in drawing up the plans.

The Home Office was due to confirm in a statement to Parliament that the cost of the operation has been fixed at the intended £600million total.

Limited details of how the money will be spent and how costs will be kept under control were also being spelled out, although much information about the precise security precautions will not be disclosed to prevent terrorists and others exploiting the knowledge.

Today's announcement follows a meeting between ministers and officials at which the delayed blueprint - and its precise cost - was finally approved.

The plan was due to be completed by the end of 2007, but was first delayed when former Met Assistant Commissioner, Tarique Ghaffur, who was responsible for the proposals, was stripped of his role amid claims that progress was too slow.

The Home Office, put in overall charge, also missed a deadline of the end of last year, raising fears that the delay could jeopardise the quality of security at the 2012 Games and lead to cost increases.

But today the Home Office will insist it will adhere to the original budget as it gives the first indication of how the money will be spent. It will set out the "financial control mechanisms" to keep the budget on track, and will release some details of funding for groups that will protect the public, athletes and officials in 2012.