• Search teams hunt desperately for keys after they were lost during final preparations for the Games
  • Could cost 40,000 to replace the hi-tech laser key set
  • Claims similar incident occurred during Wimbledon championship are denied

By Louise Eccles, Chris Greenwood and Rebecca Evans

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Police in charge of keeping the Olympics safe have lost the keys to Wembley Stadium.

Scotland Yard admitted last night that it was to blame for the shocking breach.

Search teams spent days desperately hunting for the keys after they were mislaid during the final preparations for the Games.

Farce: Police who are responsible for looking after Olympic venues have admitted that they have lost the keys to Wembley stadium

Farce: Police who are responsible for looking after Olympic venues have admitted that they have lost the keys to Wembley stadium

The announcement of the lost keys came hours after Great Britain beat the UAE in a match at Wembley in the group stages of the competition

The announcement of the lost keys came hours after Great Britain beat the UAE in a match at Wembley in the group stages of the competition

Celebrating: Ryan Giggs scored the first goal for Great Britain in their 3-1 win

Celebrating: Ryan Giggs scored the first goal for Great Britain in their 3-1 win

Sources said it would cost up to 40,000 to replace the hi-tech laser keys. The latest fiasco threatened to further damage already fragile confidence in security arrangements for the Games.

It also provoked a furious behind-the-scenes row between the police, Locog and private security firm G4S over who was responsible.

But late last night, Scotland Yard admitted a team of officers mislaid the ‘internal security keys’ during last minute checks.

Claims that a set of keys were lost at the Wimbledon Championships in similar circumstances were flatly denied by tennis bosses and G4S.

It is the latest blow to Olympic security after serious questions were raised about the 284million Government contract with G4S to secure the Games. Military personnel were drafted in after the firm admitted it could not supply enough guards.

More than 600million has been spent securing Games venues, using more than 13,000 police officers from across Britain.

Special guests: Prince William and David Beckham watched the match at the stadium

Special guests: Prince William and David Beckham watched the match at the stadium

Beckham's son Brooklyn also watched the game alongside his father

Beckham's son Brooklyn also watched the game alongside his father

The Met said staff discovered the Wembley Stadium keys had been lost last Tuesday as final preparations were made for Olympic football matches at the venue.

It originally said officers were ‘alerted’  to the loss at lunchtime, sparking a criminal inquiry over fears they were stolen.

But a spokesman later admitted the keys had been mislaid earlier that day by a police team who had returned to check the venue several weeks after it had been secured and sealed by colleagues.

The officers then spent several days at Wembley Stadium retracing their steps and trying to find the missing set of keys.

One source said: ‘These were hi-tech laser keys which cost anything up to 40,000 a set as they cannot be copied. They are the same as you get at prisons.’

Denial: Claims that a set of keys were lost at the Wimbledon championships in similar circumstances were flatly denied by tennis bosses and G4S

Denial: Claims that a set of keys were lost at the Wimbledon championships in similar circumstances were flatly denied by tennis bosses and G4S

In action: Andy Murray during his victory in the first round of the Olympic tennis tournament yesterday afternoon

In action: Andy Murray during his victory in the first round of the Olympic tennis tournament yesterday afternoon

Support: Fans were out in force to back Murray in his straight sets victory over Stanislas Wawrinka

Support: Fans were out in force to back Murray in his straight sets victory over Stanislas Wawrinka

A Met spokesman said: ‘On July 24, officers from the Olympic policing operation at Wembley Stadium reported that internal security keys which had been used by them as part of a search were missing.

‘Officers attended the venue to assist in the search for the missing items but nothing was found.

‘Detectives also went to ascertain if there was any evidence of criminal offences, however at that time there were none.’

A spokesman for Games organisers Locog said: ‘These were internal keys, locks have been changed and the security of the venue has not been compromised in any way.’

A spokesman for G4S said: ‘We have no record of losing any keys.’

  • A G4S guard was last night facing the sack after he allegedly spat at a soldier drafted in to provide security at the Olympics archery at Lord’s cricket ground. A spokesman said the firm was ‘urgently investigating’ the claims.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

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You actually mean they lock the place up and go home? You would think they would have at least have 24 hour security guards on the premises.

Ha, Mac did a cartoon about this a few days ago..........Mac sees the future....:)

Sources said it would cost up to £40,000 to replace the hi-tech laser keys. The latest fiasco threatened to further damage already fragile confidence in security arrangements for the Games. Not helped by the D M focussing on every negative aspect it possibly can and thus giving more tittle tattle to the knockers and scoffers who have no sense of pride and never achieved anything in their purile lives!

You've got to laugh, eh...!! . . You need a British sense of humour to appreciate the fun.

Dear me...

Olympic SEARCH teams couldn't find a bunch of keys...

Shame, hardly anything but NEGATIVE stories on the Olympics by DM. You would think this newspaper didn't want the games to be a success...

I wish all the cynical people would just shut up and enjoy this fantastic episode of sporting history

Ha ha ha !!!! What a total, elementary cock-up !!! Bring on the Premiership footie as soon as possible. These " Tiddlywink Games " are just one big, embarrassing joke !!!!!

The good old met strikes again, in the farce that is the games the met thrives as usual.

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