Meet the protectors of the Olympic Torch.
Metropolitan Police officers PC Michael Smith, who grew up near Brighton, and PC Simone Gibson, now living in West Sussex, have both been chosen to form part of a 70 officer team to protect the Olympic flame as it begins it tour around Britain from today.
PC Smith, 49, and PC Weston, 50, have been chosen from more than 650 applicants for the role and have been undergoing 18 months of specialist training.
The protection team will include 35 runners, who will run up to 30 miles a day, and support motorcyclists, cyclists, senior officers and operational planners with at least three security team members with the torch at any one time.
The Olympic Torch will arrive in Sussex on July 16 weaving its way through Midhurst, Petworth, Chichester, Bognor, Arundel, Worthing and Lancing before reaching Brighton and Hove where it will stay overnight.
The next day the torch will head north through the city and up to Crawley, Copthorne, East Grinstead and briefly into Kent efore coming back down to Crowborough and Lewes, Westham, Bexhill and Hastings.
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