Cuts won't harm London Olympics security, says organisers

London 2012 Olympic chiefs said on Tuesday they were confident a safe Games could be delivered despite the prospect of a 20% cut in its security budget.

Policing minister Nick Herbert said he expected the Olympic security budget to fall from a previous commitment of £600 million ($952.2 million) to an estimated £475 millionthrough savings, "without creating additional risk".       

The coalition government has made cuts across most departments to tackle a record peacetime budget deficit approaching 11% of national output.                       

Paul Deighton, chief executive of LOCOG, responsible for staging the Games, said the revised figure was the result of getting into the "nitty gritty" of what was needed.

"They are very focused on what the level of risk is and as a consequence will put in place the police support, the counter espionage support," he said.

"All the work that goes on will be in response to their perception of the level of threat and what's needed to make it a safe and secure Games, and that is the driver."     

He said he was confident risks were being covered, despite not being party to all intelligence.                                           

When the former Labour government set out its Olympic Safety and Security Strategy, experts suggested anti-terrorism measures could push the bill towards £1.5 billion.               

The security budget for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics rose five times above its bid estimate.           

London's original £600 million figure would still be available if required, Herbert said.                                          

A further £280 million was earmarked for LOCOG to secure venues across the country, taken from the overall £9.3 billion Games budget.