An exhibition centre in Wapping, East London, will serve as accommodation for the bulk of the 3,500 additional military personnel who are being deployed on Olympic Security operations, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has announced.
Tobacco Dock (pictured above), a Grade 1 listed venue converted from a 19th century tobacco warehouse, will house around 2,500 personnel primarily from the Army but also the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Personnel will start to deploy to the site this week with the remaining 1,000 of the additional personnel being accommodated in buildings on military bases, TA centres and in specially procured temporary accommodation in Hainault, Essex.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
“Including the additional 3,500 personnel announced last week, around 17,000 members of the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are now involved in the Olympic security effort. Working alongside the police and civilian contractors, this is a complex task and since last week’s uplift in the military contribution we have been working hard to ensure that our Armed Forces are accommodated appropriately and as comfortably as possible with access to sufficient rest and recreational facilities and that their collective contributions to a successful Olympics is appropriately recognised.
“I am confident that the Tobacco Dock will allow us to do that and our priority over the coming days is to ensure that happens as quickly as possible. Our Armed Forces are used to short-notice deployments and dealing with the unexpected which is why I am confident they will do a superb job in assisting in the provision of security for the world’s largest sporting event.”
Welfare package
Use of the 16,000 square metre site, which is just a 10-minute walk from Tower Bridge, follows an agreement with Tobacco Dock Venues Limited.
The Government has already made a commitment that no member of the Armed Forces will lose leave or be left out of pocket as a result of an Olympics deployment and work continues on a broader welfare package and further steps to recognise the military’s contribution.