NEARLY 900 police will be called away to the London Olympics, leaving the region potentially unable to cope with a major incident, it was claimed last night.

Fifty-two forces will take part in the 105-day operation to police the games, with up to 12,500 officers involved on peak days, the Association of Chief Police Officers said yesterday.

From this region, 870 officers will be involved, with up to 415 available on any given day; prompting Sergeant Mike Stubbs, from North Yorkshire Police Federation, to warn that the region’s ability to cope with a major incident during the games would be questionable.

The Olympic policing operation will run from June 4 to September 16. Northumbria Police will lead policing for the Olympic football matches to be played at St James’ Park, Newcastle. The force will provide 365 officers, with up to 139 active on any one day. Cleveland will provide 203, with a maximum of 110 each day. North Yorkshire will provide 172, with up to 98 available each day; while Durham will provide 130, with up to 68 available each day.

Forces sending officers to London will have the costs covered by the Government’s £600m Olympic security budget.

Northumbria’s costs in policing St James’ matches will also be met.

Individual forces will have to pay for policing the Olympic torch tour.

Sgt Stubbs said coping without the despatched officers would be extremely challenging.

He said: “We have real concerns.

Unfortunately, because we are already starting to see the consequences of the Government’s cuts to policing, it is questionable as to how we would cope with a major incident during the period.”

However, chief officers moved to reassure the public local policing would be unaffected. Annual leave has been restricted and training postponed.

Assistant Chief Constable Iain Spittal, of North Yorkshire Police, said there would be no disruption to day-to-day policing and that the area would still have “the same high level as always”.

Durham and Northumbria Police both said it would be business as usual, while Cleveland Police said it had “appropriate support to deal with any issues”.