Hotel security unit to close

The Metropolitan Police is closing its specialist hotel intelligence unit on 1 June.

The decision has upset both London hotels and the three remaining officers in the unit, who had been told that the unit would be expanded.

One police insider said: "I can't blame the hotels for being upset. It will clearly affect the level of security information we can offer to hotels and it seems a bit of a bizarre cut at a time when the force is actually setting up several specialist units, including one for stuffed animals."

Several hotel security bosses have written asking for the decision to be reconsidered, including Bill Fairweather, chairman of the Institute of Hotel Security Management and director of security for Forte hotels.

He said: "There has been a close relationship between the unit and all the hotels for 25 years. Hotel security is highly important to tourism, so it seems a strange decision."

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 26 April - 2 May 2001