I Am Sailing

The cost of policing Olympic events in Dorset, for the 2012 Olympics, is estimated to be at least £21M.

Dorset police have submitted a request to the government to foot the bill for the security needed for the sailing events for the 2012 London Olympics.

Needless to say, there is quite a difference between asking and receiving!

Annette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid-Dorset and North Poole, said:

"My greatest concern is to make sure this does come from central funds allocated for the Olympic Games and most of all that Dorset Police has the money up front.

It's going to be such a huge proportion of their overall budget."

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said, without apparent irony:

"We can confirm a bid of £21m has been put forward to the Home Office but this has not yet been approved and we are not expecting approval anytime soon. These things take a considerable period of time."

Quite!