How police are carrying out searches for things like 'explosive devices' ahead of G7 in Cornwall

Officers will be checking open areas, roads, clifftops and beaches

Author: Andrew Kay and Sarah YeomanPublished 18th May 2021

Police have told us that searches are already taking place in Cornwall ahead of the G7, for things like improvised explosive devices

Officers have been showcasing their search capabilities ahead of next month's summit - as they prepare in case of possible terrorist or disruptive protest activity.

The force has specially trained officers who can detect items which might form some form of explosive.

They also have dog units which are able to respond to any disorder.

During the build up to the summit and during it there will be searches of roads, bridges, buildings, open areas, beaches and cliff tops.

The G7 nations, plus invited leaders from Australia, India and South Korea, will gather at Carbis Bay, near St Ives, between 11th and 13th June.

The policing operation is largely focused on potential security threats and the level of police resources, but also aims to reduce the impact on local residents, businesses and visitors, particularly in the key locations of St Ives, Falmouth and Newquay.

Our reporter Andrew Kay has been at the force HQ at Middlemoor in Exeter...

"During the event, and leading up to the event, officers will be deployed to search venues, roadways, street furniture, open areas, beaches, clifftops, anything that falls within the perimeter of the summit itself.

"These officers are trained to identify small component parts of an improvised explosive device, along with an improvised explosive device itself, so the level of detail to which they're trained is exceptionally high.

"In normal circumstances the communities of Cornwall and Devon won't even realise these search operations take place, they are generally conducted without much interest from the community or media, to make an event or visit safe."

Sergeant Paul Kearton, Devon and Cornwall Police's search advisor

Around 5,000 extra officers are being drafted in when world leaders descend on Carbis Bay in June.

The security operation will be the biggest in the history of Devon and Cornwall Police.

Officers stage a search for potential explosive items at the force HQ

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