This project will investigate Olympic-related policing and crime in the London borough of Newham, where the Olympic village and stadium are being built. We have obtained exceptional access to all levels of the Newham police force, and have been conducting extensive preliminary fieldwork with local police, and across the borough, since April 2007. More specifically: we shall investigate how the police define, monitor, contain, investigate and solve 'Olympic related' crime we shall also explore the forms of Olympic-related crime that are prioritised by police; and how Olympic related policing connects to urban policing strategies, notably in relation to large public thoroughfares and major events we shall examine Olympic-related relationships that are established by Newham police with other police, security and emergency services we shall explore the broader impacts of the Olympics in Newham in regard to: criminal activities and opportunity; local criminal markets (eg identity-theft, business fraud, drug markets); and, the wider night-time economy we shall examine the local impact of Olympic-related policing, and explore police-community relations as these unfold before, during and after the Olympic Games.

The research team were embedded with the Newham Police for the length of the project, observing regular borough police tactical, strategic and management meetings, observing a variety of Olympic policing meetings (at local borough, multi-borough and London-wide levels), working with crime analysts, interviewing stakeholders, attending council meetings and Metropolitan Police meetings across London. After gaining the relevant MPS security clearance, and via effective networking within the MPS, the research team gained access to high level and sensitive meetings, in particular in relation to Olympic intelligence and Olympic policing test events. We observed the MPS Special Operations room from which the Olympic policing operation was run. We also gained access to meetings between the police in Newham, other public sector bodies (Council, education, NHS) and commercial partners to discuss the post-Olympic policing of legacy sites including the Olympic Park and Athletes’ Village. We accompanied Newham Police officers whilst they engaged in a wide range of their duties before, during and after the Olympics, attended various local council meetings, and particularly as gangs became identified as a key local problem, leading to some crucial institutional and operational innovations, we worked with specialist police, council officers and with gang members themselves. It should be noted that we were in the field at the time of the August 2011 riots and were able to observe the impact on and response of local police. We gathered a wide range of secondary materials such as documents and reports on Olympic-related issues, including regular Olympic police intelligence updates and briefings, as well as local, national and international media reports on relevant Olympic topics.