Crime fears at 2012 Olympic rowing lake in Dorney

Dorney Lake About 30,000 spectators per day are expected during the Games

Troublemakers at the Olympic 2012 rowing venue are being warned they face a criminal record or serious injury after a number of recent offences.

Staff at Dorney Lake, on the Berkshire-Buckinghamshire border near Windsor, have reported illegal swimming in the private lake and criminal damage.

Police will be making surprise visits to the area over the next few months.

The 2km (1.2-mile) stretch of water will be the venue for the rowing and flat-water canoeing regattas.

Sgt Dave Bryan said: "If we catch anyone who shouldn't be there, we will deal with them appropriately.

'Risk of drowning'

"A conviction for criminal damage is very serious and, apart from facing a prison sentence, will mean you won't be able to get a visa to visit countries like America and Australia."

Ivor Lloyd, managing director of Dorney Lake Society Services, said: "This is a professional rowing lake on private property, with a total of 18km of submerged cables.

"Swimmers who get caught up in the cables risk serious injury or drowning, so please stay out of it before an illicit swim ends in tragedy."

Construction work at the venue was completed on time and on budget earlier this year.

About 30,000 spectators a day are expected to converge on the area for the rowing events.

More on This Story

Related stories

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites

More England stories

RSS

Features & Analysis

  • Tea Party protesters in ArizonaReading the tea leaves

    What exactly does the Tea Party movement want?


  • Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem (15 Sept 2010)Tight lipped

    Middle East talks sound positive, but prospects could still be bleak


  • Performer in costume, Mexico CityIn pictures

    Mexico celebrates 200 years since start of war of independence


Elsewhere on the BBC

  • The Petronis Towers in MalaysiaMedical tourism

    BBC Travel looks at ten exotic holidays with a therapeutic twist

Programmes

  • Rehearsal for Mexico's bicentennialWorld News America Watch

    Mexico plans its largest ever bicentennial celebrations despite concerns over the country's financial state

bbc.co.uk navigation

BBC © MMX The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.