English cops take stock of security for CWG, hockey WC

NEW DELHI: Amidst reports that contingents from UK and Australia have been more or less given the go-ahead by their respective governments regarding their participation in the upcoming Hockey World Cup and the 2010 Commonwealth Games, senior officials from the London Metropolitan Police visited the Delhi Police headquarters on Thursday and the Games venues on Friday and held consultation with Indian security agencies.

This report is supposed to be crucial for the final OK to be given by the UK government and the sporting federations of that country.

According to high-level sources, John Yates, assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police arrived in Delhi on Thursday for a two-day visit.

“He met senior officials of the government, Delhi Police, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) and Commonwealth Games Federation. During the meetings, Yates and Indian officials discussed security plans including traffic management for the Hockey World Cup that begins on February 28 and the Commonwealth Games scheduled in October. They have returned satisfied,” said Lalit Verma, spokesperson, OC.

“UK and India have agreed to co-operate on security for major sporting events as Delhi will host the Commonwealth Games this year and London will host the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012,” Yates said.