Organisers scramble to protect summer’s biggest sporting events from Just Stop Oil disruption
Organizers of this summer’s biggest sporting events are set to step up security measures after Just Stop Oil protesters rallied at Ashes and Wimbledon.
Ministers were holding a summit with police and sporting bodies, including the Lawn Tennis Association, the Premier League and the England and Wales Cricket Board, at Downing Street, just as the climate protection group twice disrupted play at SW19.
Organizations told Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer and police that they are stepping up security with more law enforcement officers and considering obtaining more restraining orders so officers can quickly deal with disturbances.
Just Stop Oil threw orange confetti and puzzle pieces on Court 18 at Wimbledon on Wednesday afternoon, twice pausing play for nearly an hour each.
It followed that protesters stormed the pitch at Lord’s during last week’s Second Ashes test.
Yorkshire County Cricket Club has hired ‘sprinter stewards’ ready to step in when the group strikes for the third Test at Headingley this week.
Other sporting events that could take place this summer include the British Open at Hoylake and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone later this month and the start of the football season in August.
At Summit #10, representatives from the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Police Coordination Center briefed attendees on preparations for events this summer, including gathering intelligence to thwart activists’ plans.
The interior minister committed to a “continued dialogue” with the organizers to learn lessons from the protests.
She said: “Protesters at Wimbledon were determined to ruin the match of the day for spectators and sports fans around the world.
“This is unacceptable. We will be uncompromisingly tough on the selfish protesters who want to spoil our world-class sporting events this summer.
“The discussions I chaired at Downing Street were very productive. Sport, police and government are united to prevent further disruption of this kind.”
Police can use their powers under the new Public Order Act, which criminalizes activities such as “attacking” and can stop and search protesters for items such as padlocks and superglue.
Ms Frazer said: “We have called a roundtable discussion with organizers and police to redouble our efforts to prevent further disruption of the Great British Summer of Sport, as we saw at Wimbledon.”
“We must protect the right to peaceful protest, but that doesn’t give a vocal minority permission to spoil events enjoyed by millions of us.”
“Anyone thinking about disrupting these events should think again.”