Security tight for yachting event

By SCOTT MacLEOD

Police have begun their biggest security operation in New Zealand since last year's terrorist attacks in the United States, keeping law and order during the America's Cup.

Details of Operation Marlin II are largely secret, but officers will be brought in from throughout the country for duty once the yacht racing starts.

The September 11 attacks have placed security at the cup under scrutiny, particularly as the event will attract some of the world's wealthiest people.

Billionaires linked with cup syndicates include Patrizio Bertelli and Miuccia Prada of the Italian Prada syndicate, United States software mogul Larry Ellison from Oracle BMW Racing and Team Alinghi's Swiss founder, pharmaceutical head Ernesto Bertarelli.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, ranked the world's fourth-richest man by Forbes Global magazine, one ahead of Ellison, is a sponsor of Seattle's OneWorld Challenge.

Most will be in Auckland for the opening parade down Queen St on September 28.

Police would not say how many officers were involved in cup security or how much the exercise would cost.

The commander of the Auckland City police district, Superintendent Howard Broad, said yesterday that policing had already started for the cup and a "security screen" was in place.

He confirmed that September 11 had forced police to change their operation. He did not want to discuss details, but said one key was relations with other agencies, such as Interpol.

"I think every police agency in the world went 'gulp' and thought they had to take things more seriously," he said of September 11.

"You can assume that the cops have done something deliberate on this. We've taken a sober and sensitive look at that changed world situation and are responding with a good risk assessment."

Mr Broad said police would be most visible from October 1, when racing started, through to the end of the regatta in late February or early March.

Much of the policing would focus on problems created by the influx of hundreds of thousands of spectators, such as drunkenness and petty crime.

During the last cup, police looked into cracking down on drunkenness on the water. Police are training crews for at least 11 rigid-hulled inflatable craft. A survey for alcohol watchdog Alac found that 20 per cent of people drank on the water, but rarely heavily.

Tourism Auckland spokeswoman Rochelle Lockley said visitor numbers were likely to be similar to last time: 27,000 visitors from overseas, 340,000 domestic visitors, 2000 media people and a total of 4 million visits to the Cup Village.

Senior Sergeant Ross Henry has been working almost full-time since the last cup on planning security for this one. Inspector Mark Hall is in charge of the operation.

Police have established links with a network of security firms hired by the yachting syndicates. A director of protection agency Protective Response International, Steve Neild, said at least 12 security firms were working at the village.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup