More police on duty for London marathon A police officer at the London marathon. Numbers of officers are up 40% for this year's event. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian The number of police officers on duty for the London marathon has been boosted by 40% to provide reassurance in the wake of the atrocities in Boston. Chief Superintendent Julia Pendry revealed on Friday that there would be several hundred more officers on the streets, an increase of two-fifths on last year. "I have increased the number of officers for reassurance patrols by several hundred," said Pendry, who has led the marathon security operation for five years. It's about making sure people who come on Sunday feel safe when they are in the city. It is a good 40% increase on last year on numbers of officers on the ground. We've got more search dogs out, we have got more on high-visibility patrols. Scotland Yard is in close contact with the FBI and Boston police and there is nothing to suggest any link with the bomb attacks at the Boston marathon last Monday. "We're in touch with the Americans all the time," Pendry said. At this time there is no link whatsoever between the Boston marathon atrocities and the London Marathon on Sunday. What we have got is a number of contingencies. I have several contingencies should anything change between now and Sunday; we can then react to anything that should happen. There is no link between the Boston marathon and the London marathon and there is no change to the threat level at this time to London. Members of the public coming to the capital are being asked to make sure that they keep their belongings with them to avoid sparking security alerts. "The message I'd like to give to everybody coming is that we want you to come on Sunday, enjoy coming to watch your family and friends race, but please look after your own belongings because unattended packages will cause us to have more work to do," Pendry said. The 37,000 participants in London are expected to show solidarity with those affected by the Massachusetts attack. There will a 30-second period of silence before the start, and runners are being encouraged to wear black ribbons. Virgin London Marathon has pledged to donate £2 for every finisher in today's event to The One Fund Boston, set up to raise money for the victims of the explosions. Around 35,500 people are expected to cross the finish line on The Mall, meaning at least £70,000 is likely to be raised.