‘Ring of steel’ to protect National from protesters
Armed and undercover police aim to stop re-run of activists’ chaos
THE Grand National will be protected by a “ring of steel” as undercover crowd behaviour experts mingle with racing fans.
Police have pledged a huge security operation, including armed officers, after last year’s race was held up for 14 minutes by activists – some locking themselves to the Aintree jumps as onlookers helped to counter the Animal Rising demo.
Police arrested 118 protesters but trainer Sandy Thomson blamed activists for the death of his horse Hill Sixteen which fell at the first after going “hyper” at the delays.
Animal Rising says it has suspended race demos but police want Saturday’s racegoers to stay alert.
Strict
Merseyside Police’s Supt Matthew Moscrop said a major security operation will target potential disruption: “There will be armed officers and officers in plain clothes to make sure this is a safe and enjoyable event. People can be reassured there are very strict security measures. We are very happy with our response last year.
“If you look at the amount of people who tried to disrupt the event – there were over 100 arrests. The fact the race was delayed for just 14 minutes is a massive success.
“Following on from that there are 10 people charged and there are another 50 cases which are with the Crown Prosecution Service now, so hopefully there will be decisions made on those in the near future. Building on that, we have reviewed the intelligence so we are ready again to deal with any challenges.”
The force is deploying its Project Servator undercover teams who analyse crowds to foil attacks.
Supt Moscrop said: “These are behavioural detection specialists who identify people whose conduct suggests they are not there to enjoy a day at the races – criminal or antisocial [behaviour] and prevent it happening.” Last year nearby residents helped to stop some protesters breaking through the course’s perimeter by trying to grab the group’s ladders
Supt Moscrop added: “The Grand National Festival is a massive thing for the people of Merseyside. There is so much support for this event.
“The racegoers and the wider community know hundreds of millions of people are watching this race across the world and the people played their part last year in assisting us – and I would ask them to do the same again this year. If people see something that is out of order, or isn’t quite right, they can tell us – we can intervene.”
He would not say if police contacted activists to prevent a repeat of 2023’s chaos but added: “We respect people’s rights to protest.
“From some things [Animal Rising] have said...they are happy they have started a conversation around these issues but other people say they did the course harm.”
The force said other courses use its proactive response as a template on how to also protect their own tracks from disruptive protesters.
Aintree racegoers face security including bag searches and badge checks at the 176th Grand National.
The festival, from Thursday to Saturday, will attract 150,000 people to Aintree plus an international TV audience of some 800 million.
Animal Rising insisted it will not repeat last year’s scenes: “We want to let Aintree know – we don’t need to be there to affect change.”
But group spokesman Nathan McGovern added: “Never say never. But is disrupting races going to be the most effective way to end horse racing? We think not because we think the public has already made that decision for themselves.”
Aintree chiefs have made changes to the big race to make it safer for jockeys and mounts, such as reducing the field from 40 to 34. There is also a shorter run to the first fence to slow the horses down.The Jockey Club said it was not due to protests.