London 2012: Olympics suspects to be in dock within hours under plans

Tuesday, June 26, 2012
8:04 AM

Suspects of crimes related to the Olympic Games face swifter than usual justice.

The Crown Prosecution Service wants those accused to be quickly charged and placed in the dock within 24 hours.

Fast-track justice will see video link hearings take place to speed up the process. It is hoped this will also cut traffic disruption on roads during the Games.

Alison Saunders, chief crown prosecutor for London, told The Times newspaper: “Many people who come to the Olympics won’t live here, so it is important that if offences are committed, we act quickly.

“People who commit offences on Tuesday will be in court on Wednesday ... we are learning the lessons of the summer riots.”

Following widespread rioting and looting last August, legal processes were cut to days from weeks in length.

Ms Saunders said whether crime rates would rise or fall during the Games was impossible to predict.

A new category of Olympic crime has been created ahead of the event, though it is not in itself a legal offence.