Wimbledon to ramp up security

WIMBLEDON have taken special security measures to make sure this year’s Championships are the most secure in history. Staff have been trained in ‘behaviour detection’ — the ability to spot suspicious activity which may otherwise go unnoticed in crowds. One security source said it can include noticing if an individual is holding a bag a certain way or if he or she is showing signs of nerves. Armed police officers will patrol the All England Club grounds, as they did last year, and extensive searches will take place at all gates. ‘The safety and security of all visitors to The Championships is of paramount importance, and there will be enhanced, layered security measures in place in and around this year’s Championships,’ said a statement from Wimbledon. ‘The AELTC works very closely with the Metropolitan Police and other relevant organisations to review and implement arrangements year-on-year and ensure that security measures at The Championships are commensurate with the existing threat level in the UK. ‘Working from a strong base of existing measures in place from previous years, the robust measures in place for this year’s Championships include extensive searches of people, bags and vehicles on entry to the Grounds, the placement of enhanced vehicle mitigation, wide CCTV coverage, armed and uniformed police officers and sniffer dogs.’