Wimbledon 2016: Security heightened over fears of terror attack

Fans warned to prepare for ‘more security than ever’ with armed police at Wimbledon this year

There will be extensive searches of people, bags and vehicles on entry to the grounds and show courts

The Wimbledon tennis championship will see tighter security checks "than ever before”, with extensive searches and a visible armed police presence, organisers have said.

The tennis club has urged people planning to watch the tournament to check the Wimbledon website before they travel and to expect bag and body searches before being admitted to the grounds.

The club said the heightened security measures are “comprehensive and proportionate“ with the threat level in the UK.

“The level of security and policing is commensurate with the threat and multi-layered, and it has been heightened as you would expect with everything that has been going on, a Wimbledon spokesman said.

“Throughout the year, the AELTC has been working closely with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that The Championships will be as secure as possible and that security measures are comprehensive and proportionate with the threat level in the UK.

“This will include extensive searches of people, bags and vehicles on entry to the grounds and show courts, and the public are requested to help with entry procedures by checking the latest information on Wimbledon.com before travelling.”

The annual tennis tournament begins on 27 June and lasts until 10 July.

The extra security comes in the wake of terror attacks in France and Belgium over the past year that has seen tightened scrutiny at many large sporting events around the world.

The Metropolitan Police said that in light of events around the world, the security operation at Wimbledon has been “thoroughly reviewed”.

A spokesman added: “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.

“Armed officers have supported the policing operation in previous years, but this year will see them deployed in a different way.”

Other sporting events face high level security in the wake of terror attacks in France and Belgium in recent months.

Football fans travelling across the Channel to Euro 2016 were warned to remain “vigilant at all times” as updated advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office highlights stadiums, fan zones, other venues broadcasting the tournament and transport hubs and links as potential targets.