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£10m cost of Potter security

16.07.07

'Experts' have put the cost of securing the release of the final Harry Potter book at £10m, according to the Telegraph. "It is from Tuesday, however, when copies begin to be sent out to retailers, that the most crucial part of the security operation will come into effect. The trucks Bloomsbury will use are fitted with satellite tracking systems costing up to £1,000 each, which will reveal whether any of the vehicles deviates from its intended route. The books are on sealed pallets fitted with alarms to prevent tampering."

All retailers have had to sign a legal embargo preventing them from divulging any of the book's content or selling copies before the release time. A spokesman for Borders, the bookshop chain, said the ban means "We agree not to open any of the books before midnight. We can't even line the shelves before then."

However, people have still gone to extraordinary lengths to try and find out the ending. Rowling has reportedly received letters from people asking her to reveal the ending of the seventh book because their terminally-ill relative may not live until Saturday.

Some Potter websites have suggested that fans wear headphones when they go to buy the book so that those who skip to the end can't ruin it for them by telling them how the saga closes, while Wikipedia, the online encylopaedia, is blocking new contributions to its Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows page until after the book's release.


Telegraph

harry potter Bloomsbury children's

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