Newspaper review: London Olympic Games security move criticised

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Figure caption,

A look at the first editions of the UK papers

The provision of security during the Olympic and Paralympic Games provokes scathing responses in Friday's papers.

"Chaos" is how the <link> <caption>Times</caption> <url href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/" platform="highweb"/> </link> puts the situation, as it questions exactly where the 3,500 troops being drafted in to strengthen protection will stay.

And the Sun is scandalised that <link> <caption>"war heroes" being brought in will have to "rough it" by living in tents.</caption> <url href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4426949/Scandal-as-security-firm-G4S-pull-out-of-Olympics-jobs-deal.html" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

Home Secretary Theresa May is labelled an "Olympic chump" in the <link> <caption>Daily Mirror</caption> <url href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/" platform="highweb"/> </link> for her handling of security.

<bold>Little difference</bold>

The deaths of three British climbers and six others in an avalanche on Mont Maudit is widely reported.

One of Britain's best mountaineers, <link> <caption>Roger Payne, was killed, with the Daily Mail featuring his picture on its front page</caption> <url href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2172418/Pictured-First-British-victim-identified-experienced-mountaineer-climbers--including-UK--killed-deadly-avalanche-cursed-mountain-French-Alps.html" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

Leading Alpine climber Kenton Cool tells the <link> <caption>Daily Mirror</caption> <url href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/mont-blanc-avalanche-three-britons-1140436" platform="highweb"/> </link> that when an avalanche happens without warning experience makes little difference.

Meanwhile, the <link> <caption>Guardian says global warming has made the European Alps more dangerous. </caption> <url href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/12/avalanche-beast-curse-mountains" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

Serious contenders

The <link> <caption>Financial Times</caption> <url href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0231ace4-cc1d-11e1-839a-00144feabdc0.html#axzz20TVVTIbr" platform="highweb"/> </link> says that 12 global banks linked to the Libor rate-fixing scandal face a possible total bill of more than £14bn.

Its estimate assumes more banks will pay penalties similar to Barclays, which was fined nearly £300m.

The <link> <caption>Times</caption> <url href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/" platform="highweb"/> </link> thinks that the Libor scandal has thrown the race to be the next Bank of England governor "wide open".

With Sir Mervyn King going next year, the paper says the list of serious contenders is short.

The case of a 22-year-old man who died of dehydration at St George's hospital, in south London, is reported widely.

<link> <caption>The Daily Mail names some of the medical staff it says let down Kane Gorny</caption> <url href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2171024/Kane-Gorny-Patient-died-thirst-hospital-denied-medication-doctors-did-know-there.html?ITO=1490" platform="highweb"/> </link> , who died after phoning 999 because he was so thirsty.

The Independent says <link> <caption>1,000 patients die in NHS hospitals every month because of basic errors by medical staff.</caption> <url href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/exclusive-doctors-basic-errors-are-killing-1000-patients-a-month-7939674.html" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

The paper says most of the patients who died were elderly but some were in their 40s and 30s.

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