Migrant smugglers on track for Olympic push

'Golden chance' to reach UK if police diverted to Games

- Michael Knowles, Christian Calgie

PEOPLE smugglers see the Paris Olympics as a "golden opportunity" to get record numbers of migrants into the UK, ministers have been warned.

The prospect is believed to be one of the top threats identified by a Home Office crisis monitoring team.

Britain has been pressing France since January to ensure the number of police on French beaches remains the same.

Up to 45,000 police and soldiers will be on duty each day for the Games, which begin on Friday, amid fears it could be targeted by terrorists.

Home Office staff fear some will have been switched from patrolling beaches in Northern France.