Suella Braverman vows crackdown on 'selfish' Just Stop Oil after Wimbledon stunt - as British No1 speaks out

5 July 2023, 23:43 | Updated: 6 July 2023, 00:46

Protesters from Just Stop Oil disrupted play at Wimbledon
Protesters from Just Stop Oil disrupted play at Wimbledon. Picture: Getty
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has vowed to crackdown on 'selfish' Just Stop Oil protestors after they halted play at Wimbledon multiple times on Wednesday.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

British No1 Katie Boulter was forced to help clear confetti off the court after Just Stop Oil protesters hit court 18 at Wimbledon for the second time.

Play was halted for around 10 minutes after a protester interrupted Boulter's first-round match against Daria Saville.

Reacting to the protests, Ms Braverman said: "The protesters at Wimbledon were determined to ruin the day's play for spectators and sports fans across the world.

"This is unacceptable. We will be uncompromisingly tough on the selfish protesters intent on spoiling our world-class sporting occasions this summer.

"Sports, police and government are united against preventing further disruption of this kind."

A protester on court 18 throwing confetti on to the grass during Katie Boulter’s first-round match against Daria Saville on day three
A protester on court 18 throwing confetti on to the grass during Katie Boulter’s first-round match against Daria Saville on day three. Picture: Alamy

Ms Saville also helped to clear the court as a man was escorted away.

He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.

Speaking after the match, Ms Boulter said the protest was "a shock to the system", labelling it "a really unfortunate situation for everyone".

Read More: British No1 Katie Boulter helps clear confetti after Just Stop Oil protesters hit Wimbledon for second time

The Metropolitan Police said: "We are aware of an incident on Court 18 whereby one male has unlawfully entered the field of play and discharged items onto the playing surface.

"He was immediately removed from the Grounds and arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.

"The male is now in custody. Play on the court has been temporarily paused while the items are removed and will resume shortly.

"Police and AELTC (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club) Security Teams are responding immediately to deal with these incidents."

Activists had already disrupted play between Gregor Dimitrov and Sho Shimabukuro earlier in the day.

They stormed onto court 18 and carried out a sit-down protest, throwing orange confetti onto the grass.

A lone protester appeared during the match
A lone protester appeared during the match. Picture: Alamy

It comes just one day after the Princess of Wales delighted fans at the same court buy turning up to watch UK No 1 Katie Boulter.

Wimbledon officials said that two people had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.

In a statement, Just Stop Oil said "we can't leave it to the next generation to pick up the pieces".

Deborah Wilde, 68, a retired teacher from London, who was one of the protesters who ran on the court shortly after 2.10pm, said: "I'm just an ordinary grandmother in resistance to this government's policy of serving us new oil and gas licences. In normal circumstances this sort of disruption would be entirely unacceptable, but these aren't normal circumstances.

Just Stop Oil activists invade Wimbledon court and scatter jigsaw pieces as they disrupt play

"We've just had the hottest June on record, breaking the previous record by nearly a whole degree! We don't need Hawk-eye to see that our government issuing over 100 new fossil fuel licences is a very bad line-call.

"Forget strawberries and cream, scientists are warning of impending food shortages, mass displacement and war. We are facing new pandemics, economic inflation and increasingly authoritarian governments who will attempt to crush civil unrest.

They concealed the orange 'confetti' inside a Wimbledon jigsaw box
They concealed the orange 'confetti' inside a Wimbledon jigsaw box. Picture: BBC

"This is a crisis and it needs a crisis response. I want a safe future, not just for my grandchildren but for all children around the world and the generations to come."

The other Just Stop Oil protester who invaded Court 18 at Wimbledon was Simon Milner-Edwards, 66, a retired musician, from Manchester.

He said: "I'm here for my grandchildren and everybody else's. I'm not prepared to let our politicians wreck everything and leave the next generation to pick up the pieces.

The protesters are led away by police and Wimbledon officials
The protesters are led away by police and Wimbledon officials. Picture: Alamy

"The last thing I want to do is spoil people's enjoyment of Wimbledon, but right now, on Centre Court, it's humanity versus oil and gas - and the umpire is getting every call wrong.

"How long are we going to take this before we see a McEnroe-level meltdown?"

A female protester scatters confetti on Court 18
A female protester scatters confetti on Court 18. Picture: Alamy

It was reported last month that the protesters were 'hatching a plot' to disrupt the tournament.

At the start of this year’s tournament, the Just Stop Oil group were blamed for longer than normal queues due to heightened security procedures.

The protesters were taken to one side of the court before being led away
The protesters were taken to one side of the court before being led away. Picture: Alamy

Some fans were left waiting half a day to get into the tournament.

But the protesters today appeared to have got round security by disguising their confetti as jigsaw pieces in a Wimbledon merchandise jigsaw box.

Some 10,000 people lined up on the first day as security seized deodorant and sun cream, with powders, glue, chains and cable ties also explicitly banned.

One woman said she began queueing at 3.45am only to finally enter the grounds after 1pm.

London-based events manager Becky Deeming said she had got to the venue at 3.30am but only got in at 1.30pm.

She said: "A steward told me security is holding everything up because there were protesters at the Ashes and they are worried the same will happen here so they are checking more thoroughly."

All fans have to go through rigorous security checks where their bags are checked. Undercover police are also trying to spot protesters in the queues.

Security is so tight that Wimbledon's organisers warned anyone found possessing a banned item could be thrown out.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

File photo 28/1/2021 of a pub with its doors closed. The number of pubs in England and Wales dipped below 39,000 for the first time after hundreds of locals shut their doors for good this year, according to new figures.

Millions of jobs at risk as UK firms mull biggest layoffs in close to a decade amid plunging business confidence

Wes Streeting says campaign to free Lucy Letby is 'not right'

'This isn't a political campaign, it's a legal process': Wes Streeting says campaign to free Lucy Letby is 'not right'

Exclusive
West Streeting, left, has back Sir Keir Starmer after the Prime Minister said he was ready to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Peace in Ukraine 'vital for Britain's freedom', says Streeting as he backs PM's calls for troops on the ground

From Conclave to The Brutalist - the full 2025 BAFTA's winners list revealed

From Conclave to The Brutalist - the full 2025 BAFTA's winners list revealed

President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has arrived in the United Arab Emirates ahead of this week's expected peace talks aimed at ending his country's war with Russia.

Zelenskyy visits UAE as Starmer signals support for British troop deployment in Ukraine peacekeeping

Emergency services were called just after 7pm on Friday amid reports a woman had suffered serious injuries

'I thought it was fireworks': Pub landlady describes moments before fatal Valentine's Day car park shooting

Danielle McLaughlin's killer Baghat was finally found guilty today

Man sentenced to life in prison over rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin in Goa

Shakira: Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour Kick Off - Rio de Janeiro

Singer Shakira admitted to hospital after abdominal issues force her to cancel concert

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Kyiv 'not invited' to US-Russia peace negotiations

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer

NHS on 'road to recovery', claims PM as he meets pledge to deliver two million extra appointments

Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine.

'I'm ready to put British troops into Ukraine', Keir Starmer says ahead of emergency Paris summit

Princess of Wales 'put her foot down'

Kate 'put her foot down' and stopped George, Charlotte and Louis taking part in gory hunting tradition

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Mikey Madison, winner of Leading Actress Award for 'Anora' and Adrien Brody, winner of the Leading Actor Award for 'The Brutalist'

Conclave wins Best Film at BAFTAs as Adrien Brody named Best Actor

High Street, South Norwood, London.

Investigation launched by police watchdog as man lost consciousness after being restrained by officers

Marco Rubio - Benjamin Netenyahu meeting in Jerusalem

Netanyahu praises Trump's 'bold vision' for Gaza

Chickens, poultry, on free-range chicken farm

Tens of thousands of birds culled at farm after suspected bird flu case