HUNDREDS of police officers and staff involved in the security operation of the Olympic and Paralympic sailing events will be based in the borough.

More than 300 officers and staff will be housed in mobile home-style accommodation at Seaview Holiday Park in Preston, Weymouth from July 27 until September 9.

Another 220 police officers will be accommodated in temporary units at Southwell Business Park on Portland for the 22 busiest days.

Weymouth and Portland is the largest Olympic venue outside London and will be operational for the full period of the Games.

A £2million contract for 48 rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) to aid the Dorset Police security effort has been awarded to Lymington company Solent RIB charter.

Another contract will soon be announced for a ‘local kennel’ to accommodate around 20 police sniffer and security dogs during the 2012 sailing.

Dorset Police is leading the county’s security operation but the military will also be playing a key role.

HMS Bulwark will be returning to borough waters in May for a ‘military live exercise’ ahead of the international Sail for Gold Regatta in June and the London 2012 Olympic sailing events, which begin on July 29.

Plymouth’s Royal Navy clearance divers will also conduct regular sweeps of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour to ensure there is ‘nothing untoward’. The costs of the operation will be met by the Home Office.

Shining light

DORSET will experience its first taste of the 2012 Games magic when the Olympic Torch Relay arrives in mid-July.

On Thursday, July 12, the Olympic flame will arrive in north Dorset and travel across the west of the county before arriving in the borough for an official evening celebration on Weymouth Beach from 7.20pm.

A total of 600 youngsters will be heralding the start of evening celebrations with the Moving Tides children’s procession and a mass drumming event on the seafront.

On Friday, July 13, the relay will continue its journey from Portland Bill, across the island and out of Weymouth via Osmington, Purbeck and then east Dorset for another evening celebration on Bournemouth Beach.

A detailed route and a full list of the county’s 210 confirmed London 2012 torchbearers is online at london2012. com/games/olympic-torch-relay/ torchbearers/