The Telegraph reports that a leaked memo has revealed several controversial “Big Brother” style crime-fighting techniques will be introduced by the government for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
The document was drawn up by Home Office officials and according to the newspaper, “paves the way for a much wider use of the police’s DNA database to identify suspects through their relatives”.
Police will be empowered to scan postal packages to find drugs and monitor an individual’s progress in even greater detail than they can now by using advances in CCTV technology as well as electronic travel passes.
According to the Telegraph, Conservatives and civil liberties campaigners are leading protests against the proposals.
Meanwhile The Telegraph reports London 2012 officials have invited non-domestic airlines to compete to become the official carrier for the Games because of an apparent lack of interest from British Airways (BA), amid recent reports the organizing committee is having difficulty to attract sponsors because of soaring costs.
Although BA and Virgin Atlantic have joined forces to support London’s 2012 bid, the newspaper says the flag carrier has since seemed unimpressed by the prospect of paying to be an official sponsor and according to the Telegraph, it is understood that the Games’ soaring cost are behind BA’s hesitation.
Chris Townsend, the commercial director of the London Organising Committee, denied that it was struggling to raise the two billion pounds of private funds needed. “The auction for the airline partnership has been opened up to non-domestic airline brands in an effort to maximize competition and revenue for the Games”.
A BA spokesman said, “British Airways was delighted when the London bid team won the contest. However, no decision has been made on the airline’s involvement with the Games in 2012”. According to the newspaper, insiders say the airline is unconvinced that sponsorship will provide justifiable commercial benefit.
A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic said, “we have good links with the organizing committee and expect to hold discussions with them soon regarding the airline sponsor slot”.
