ESSEX Police today dismissed claims that they will struggle to cope with everyday policing during the 2012 Olympics.

Grassroots police leaders said the 60-day event will be the biggest security and policing operation ever seen in Britain, involving some 15,000 officers - about 10 per cent of the police workforce in England and Wales.

Essex Police will be called in to deal with events in the county, as well as back-up for other areas, and to deal with people coming into Essex, particularly through seaports and Stansted Airport.

Speaking at the Police Federation conference in Bournemouth, Alan Gordon, Police Federation vice chairman, said the games will be a high-profile target, not only for terrorists, but also for organised and petty criminals.

He claimed preparations had already fallen behind, and police forces would be overstretched.

An Essex Police spokesman dismissed the fears, claiming the force will be ready to deal with whatever happens.

He said: We are confident that Essex Police has the resources to deal with this. and we will be ensuring that there is no adverse impact on the policing of this county."