England wicket-keeper Johnny Barstow carried an anti-Just Stop Oil protester to the border. Photo: PA/Mike Egerton
Wimbledon players and staff will be told «don't do Bairstow» and will take matters into their own hands if Just Stop Oil protesters try to disrupt next week's tournament.
The military also will be ordered not to interfere if the protesters interfere with the court. Volunteers from the Army, Navy and RAF participate as stewards, but this only extends to simple duties such as checking tickets and guiding fans to their seats.
Instead, it will be the responsibility of specially trained response teams to remove members of the protest group, including security guards provided by Carlisle Security Group and Knights Group Security. There will be more of them than usual this year, as well as plainclothes security guards keen to spot threats before they develop.
The warning came before Wimbledon after one Just Stop Oil activist said: “Image someone's hand glued to something on Center Court would be awesome. It would be very inspiring. There are many people for that.”
At Lord's on Wednesday, England goalkeeper Johnny Bairstow cheered on the crowd as he carried one protester from the middle to the border. The other, who came closer to the pitch, was blocked by England captain Ben Stokes and Australian batsman David Warner.
While it is true that the honorary stewards who serve the entrances to the courts are mostly former military personnel, some of them tend to retire and are not encouraged to directly deal with security issues. The tradition dates back to 1946, when attendants were required to direct guests to the Central Court due to bomb damage during the war, and staff took time off to work at the event with permission to wear full uniforms.
During individual briefings will be placed in the hands of the Tournament Director, players are expected to follow the instructions of the Chair Judge and Match Director.
“The safety and protection of all of our players, colleagues and visitors is of paramount importance,” said Michelle Dayte, Operations Manager for the All England Club. “Throughout the year, we work closely with the Metropolitan Police and other relevant organizations to ensure that the Championship is as safe as possible and that our plans and measures are consistent with the level of threat and prevailing risks.
“Based on what has happened at other sporting events and on the advice of our key partners, we have revised our safety plans. We have plans in place to mitigate risks by working in collaboration with specialized agencies and the Metropolitan Police, and should an incident occur, the appropriate teams will respond.»
England cricket captain Ben Stokes steps in to stop a Just Stop Oil protester at Lord's. Photo: Getty Images/Stu Forster
As part of the security check, the All England Club has expanded the list of prohibited items that will not be allowed on the grounds. The terms of participation offer a general heading – “any item that…may constitute a hazard to the safe delivery of the Championship” – under which glue, zip ties, chains, padlocks and chalk dust can be found in 2023.
With 18 championship courts active at Wimbledon in the early rounds, plus another 20 at the training ground in nearby Aorangi Park, protesters will have a wide range of targets to aim for. But if they need live advertising, they will naturally focus on the two main stadiums, Center Court and No. 1 Court.
Preparing for what could be a tough tournament, the AELTC is looking into countermeasures for orange powder and paint used by Just Stop Oil. If a protester succeeds in applying these substances to the courts, he needs to know the best methods for quick cleaning, down to the best vacuum cleaner to remove the powder from the grass. Insiders speculate that test runs have already taken place at reserve Wimbledon venues such as Raynes Park.
All major sporting events are on high alert this summer after Just Stop Oil activists stepped up efforts to disrupt the competition in recent weeks. Their attention-grabbing antics on the first morning of the second Ashes Test, when two men entered the field trying to scatter orange powder, came after the rugby union premier league final and the world snooker championship were also abandoned. The environmental protest group, which is calling on the government to stop all new oil, gas and coal projects, is also targeting last year's Premier League matches.
Back at the All England Club, Dite stressed that Wimbledon's environmentally conscious nature of statement on Thursday. “Our commitment to making a positive impact on the environment is central to our daily operations,” she said, “and is an essential part of the success of the championship.”
“We know that. is one of the defining challenges of our time, and we are fully prepared to play our part. From using only renewable electricity and offering low-carbon options on our menus, to sending zero waste to landfill and promoting a culture of reuse, we work hard to achieve a positive environmental impact in everything we do.”
The Metropolitan also got in touch with Telegraph Sport. The officers said they would comment on the actions of the security service closer to the premiere.
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