Wimbledon bosses have teamed up with a tech company to prevent drones flying overhead and disrupting play, the Standard has learned.
The All England Club is employing specialist technology to prevent disruption similar to that seen at Gatwick airport over Christmas when about 1,000 flights were cancelled or diverted.
While a no-fly zone is regularly in place over the club for the fortnight, Wimbledon chiefs have this year brought in technology to prevent unauthorised craft from being able to operate.
It comes after reports that climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion — who have threatened to shut down Heathrow using drones — had drawn up plans to “wreak havoc” at Wimbledon by demonstrating against single-use plastics.
The tactic means that the skies should remain clear for British No 1 Johanna Konta’s quarter-final match against Barbora Strycova on Centre Court today.
After defeating two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova yesterday, Konta is just two wins away from becoming the first British women’s singles finalist since Virginia Wade won the title in 1977.
Superintendent Jo Edwards, the Met Police commander in charge of security for the Championships, said there were a number of measures being used to “detect or disrupt” the use of drones.
She told the Standard: “There is restricted airspace in play. We will brief our staff to look for anyone who is flying a drone.
“The club has also got technology where they can detect drones. It is looking into technology to detect or deter and has gone into partnership [with a company] this year.”
Police officers have also been patrolling drone hotspots — identifying potential launch sites and looking for anyone trying to launch an unauthorised craft.
The Met’s Project Servator, which uses covert and visible officers around the grounds to detect would-be troublemakers, is also in force.
A Wimbledon spokeswoman said: “Throughout the year we work closely with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that the Championships are as secure as possible.
“We will take any appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the whole Championship and drone detection services are part of our overall security plan to endeavour to ensure that drones do not compromise general safety and security.”
