Largest mutual aid for Nato summit since Olympics

The security operation for the forthcoming Nato summit at the Celtic Manor resort in Newport will see one of the largest-ever UK policing deployments, involving 9,000 officers drawn from forces across the UK.

The conference, due to take place on September 4 and 5, will play host to 67 heads of state, including US President Barack Obama, and will require one of the biggest mutual aid exercises ever mounted.

By comparison, the 2005 G8 Summit in Scotland saw more than 10,000 officers drafted in, while more than 12,000 police officers were required to police the London 2012 Olympic Games.

As well as Gwent Police, South Wales Police will play a major part in policing the summit with several diplomatic functions taking place in Cardiff. In all, some 20km of fencing will be erected around the Celtic Manor Resort and at locations around Cardiff.

All footpaths crossing the resort will be closed and the Civil Aviation Authority will impose a no-fly zone over South Wales and Bristol for the duration of the summit.

Planning for the policing operation has been ongoing since the venue was confirmed in October 2013.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Armitt, who has been seconded from Merseyside Police to lead the policing and security operation for the summit, said he is expecting a small number of people to be disruptive.

“That may take the form of people trying to interfere with the transport infrastructure or it may actually be damage or worse than that,” he said.

“With an event of this scale, we are putting the necessary security measures in place, including drafting in additional police officers. This is a UK-wide policing effort and I am confident that we will be able to deliver a safe summit, for delegates and the public.”

See PP407 for a detailed look at the tactics behind policing the summit.