A UK annual tennis tournament had protection against vehicle-ramming attacks after mobile temporary security barriers were installed for the first time. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) had barriers fitted at the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club, in west London, as part of security measures at the week-long event in June.
The LTA worked with HVM (Hostile Vehicle Mitigation) and event services company StadiumTM, based in Coventry, which deployed the barriers in four areas, securing two main entrances as well as vulnerable crowded streets.
The ATG Access Surface Guard barrier allows pedestrians to pass through, is accessible for wheelchair users, pushchairs and cyclists and can be dropped in less than 30 seconds the makers report, to enable emergency vehicles to pass through. Police horses and police motorcycles too can go through the barriers. The event marked the longest duration that the temporary barriers have ever been deployed and saw more than 60,000 attendees pass through.
David McAtamney, Managing Director of StadiumTM, said: “It has been fantastic to work with the LTA and secure spaces in this beautiful city, ensuring that thousands of tennis fans as well as residents in the area were protected from potential vehicle ramming attacks. As we have seen, such attacks can take place anytime, anywhere, and we cannot fall naïve to these threats. The barriers are a temporary security measure which not only acts as a deterrent, but can also arrest and stop vehicles.
“While there are other methods available, they are inefficient, costly and hinder pedestrian flow, making it difficult to both enter and exit a site. We look to create environments that feel safe and secure to event attendees, and we are very proud to do this. The success of this event demonstrates the importance of the perimeter protection industry and the events world coming together, and also shows that the championships are a step ahead in crowd protection security.”
StadiumTM recently became members of the trade bodies the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association (PSSA), and the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA). Among other recent events the company has worked at are the Tour de Yorkshire, the Wolverhampton Wanderers promotion parade; the May Boodles Festival in Chester; and the BBC Biggest Weekend in Coventry, where the firm managed the Park and Ride from Jaguar Land Rover in Whitley and the car parking on site, and deployed ATG Access’ Surface Guard product.
