Wimbledon ring of steel: Security barriers to prevent London Bridge-style attack

The Metropolitan Police will throw a ring of steel around Wimbledon next week, with heavy barriers erected at key points on roads around the All England Lawn Tennis Club to prevent any possible vehicle attack on spectators queuing outside.

Armed police will operate a shoot-to-kill policy to counter the threat of suicide attacks when the world's most famous tennis tournament begins on Monday.

Dozens of armed police and plainclothes units will patrol the grounds of the club to provide “protection and reassurance” to the thousands of people flocking to the championships.

The senior Metropolitan Police officer in charge of policing this year’s event has said that the possibility of an attack on the tournament is uppermost in her mind, following the Westminster Bridge, Manchester Arena and London Bridge attacks.

Superintendent Jo Edwards said: “Of course we’re taking account of the threat level in the UK and the terrible attacks we have seen across the country. The recent terror attacks are at the forefront of our minds.”

Met officers have liaised with the intelligence services in the run up to Wimbledon over the possibility of terrorists targeting the tournament.

The UK's terror threat level remains at the second highest level of severe, meaning that an attack is highly likely but not imminent.

With thousands of people attending Wimbledon, including dozens of celebrities and VIPs in the Royal Box on a daily basis, the event is one of the most high-profile in the international calendar.

But recent events have only added to the pressure on Scotland Yard to protect it from any threat, including possible terror plots.

Supt Edwards, who has served as a police officer for 25 years and is in charge of policing the championships for the first time, said: “We are professional about putting our plans together and of course we’ve taken into account what the intelligence is telling us.

“There will be a significant number of police resources available at different times throughout the fortnight to provide a reassuring presence around the area for people.”

She added: “Part of our aim is to try and keep the Borough of Merton operating as normally as possible and move people in and out of the event.

"Part of the security plan will be to put in place the barriers we are used to seeing in central London to protect people around the championships.”

Armed police will be a visible presence throughout the championships fortnight, both inside the club and its immediate surroundings.

Scotland Yard said a wide range of policing tactics will be used, including “significant numbers of officers” patrolling the local area, firearms officers and a highly mobile reserve that can respond to emerging incidents.

“Last year the public saw armed officers visibly around the club and the local area for the first time. The public is used to seeing armed officers at high profile events. We will have armed officers inside and outside the club adding to that visible police presence,” said Supt Edwards.

It is understood armed response units operating in SW19 have been given the go ahead to operate a "shoot-to-kill" policy, similar to that seen when the three London Bridge attackers were shot within minutes of armed officers arriving on the scene.

Supt Edwards said: “We will be following our normal firearms policy and protocol adopted by the Metropolitan Police. There will be firearms police in place and although I can't go into specific measures there are firearms contingency measure we can draw on.”

And she emphasised that security would be maintained at a high state of alert for the entire day’s play across the two weeks of the championships.

Police are mindful that the Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi detonated his device as they were leaving Ariana Grande’s concert in May, killing 22 pop fans and injuring dozens of others.

Supt Edwards said: “We are supporting the club with security arrangements through the entire fortnight. We don't drop everything as soon as people are inside. It keeps going throughout.”

But the Met is at pains to ensure that its security operation does not detract from the enjoyment of spectators at the ground, describing its response as “proportionate”.

Supt Edwards said: “The Met has unparalleled experience in policing big events and delivering a safe environment for people to come and enjoy themselves - that will be our job this year

“It’s a proportionate amount of police officers across the fortnight. We are confident we’ve got a plan in place to make it a safe and secure event.”