This year’s Wimbledon Championships will see an increase in security controls following recent terrorist attacks in Europe.
The All England Club will have armed police inside and outside of the venue. Security at SW19 will consist of security staff hired by the venue as well as the Metropolitan police, who will be providing both uniformed and undercover police officers.
“A range of tactics will be put in place, some highly visible and some that the public will not notice and that includes a dedicated deployment of armed officers.” A spokesman for the Met police told Sky Sports.
It is not the first time that there has been an increase in security measures at the venue, last year there was also a heavy police presence in the wake of the Tunisia attacks that killed 38 people.
Last year during a football friendly between France and Germany in Paris, three explosions occurred outside the stadium, killing four people (including the three attackers). It was one of a series of attacks in the city which claimed the lives of 137 people.
Following the atrocities in Paris, Belgium and elsewhere in the world, Great Britain have been placed on high alert. The national terror threat is currently categorised as ‘severe’, meaning the a terrorist attack is ‘highly likely.’
With strict measures in place, Wimbledon has avoided any serious major incidents in their history. One of their most notable security lapses occurred in 2002 when a 32-year-old Australian fan manage to make his way into the player lounge and talk to former player Anna Kournikova.
The tournament will get underway next Monday.
