Paralympic troops 'must travel in groups'

04 September 2012

Service personnel involved in securing the Paralympic Games have been advised to travel to and from venues in groups following reports of an assault and verbal abuse from members of the public, it has been reported.

An article in The Daily Telegraph claimed that commanders have ordered the 3,500 personnel involved in Paralympic venue security not to travel alone following at least one confirmed report of an assault which left a soldier wounded.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it had received allegations of assault made by a 32-year-old man who claimed he had been attacked by four men aged between 18 and 20 during the Olympic Games on 6 August.

The Telegraph claims the man was abused for carrying a military daysack at a tube station near Tobacco Dock, where hundreds of service personnel were staying during the games.

The man was treated at the scene for cuts and bruising, and the newspaper claimed he was left with two black eyes.

There have also been reports that the crew of HMS Ocean have been abused by members of the public at Greenwich Pier, south London.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Isolated incidents of abuse are disappointing and not representative of the general public's regard for the military's contribution to games security.

"As a matter of course, any allegation of abuse is reported to the Metropolitan Police."