In the space of ten weeks, beginning in early June and finishing in early August, the British Armed Forces, along with the Security Services and law enforcement, will have to deal with providing security, including cyber-security, for two massive public events. The first is the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, set to take place throughout the weekend of June 2-5. The second event will be the staging of the 2012 Olympics from July 27 to August 12 centered in London but with events throughout the United Kingdom.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors are anticipated for both events. There is, however, the lingering memory of the suicide bombings that took place on July 7, 2005 in London which killed 52 people the day after the announcement that London had been selected for the 2012 Olympics, and the awareness of ongoing threats of disruption or terrorism frequently made against major public events.