World Championship security ramped up as Higgins fears worse protests

John Higgins has backed the ramping-up of security at the World Championships to snuff out any copy-cat attacks following Monday’s ‘Just Stop Oil’ protest. The images of the table for the Joe Perry against Rob Milkins match covered in orange powder paint have gone around the world over the past 36 hours – and triggered an urgent security review.

Two climate-change activists leapt from the front row seats at the Crucible, though one was prevented from glue-ing herself to the table in the Mark Allen vs Fan Zhengyi clash. After an impressive 10-3 win over Leeds’ David Grace to reach the second round, Higgins said: “I just think if other people see something like this, people are copy-cats sometimes.

“If people see it is that easy to do that, they might have it in their minds to do think ‘I could maybe do something worse’. So that’s why it should be beefed up, and all bags checked. It was good to have the extra security officer at table level today.

“Incidents like this put fears in the back of your mind, but if you worry about everything, you wouldn’t walk out the front door. The security probably does need strengthening, sporting events do seem to keep on being targeted.

“In the past we players think of ourselves as ordinary working-class guys, we don’t see ourselves as superstars or expect that level of security. But maybe we should.” The activists arrested by South Yorkshire Police on Monday night on suspicion of causing criminal damage were named yesterday.

Eddie Whittingham, 25, an Exeter University student, and Margaret Reid, 52, a former museum professional from Kendal, were still awaiting possible charges. There was an immediate beefing-up of the security arrangements for staff, media and spectators like at the Crucible yesterday.

All bags were being opened and searched and just small ones allowed into the theatre, with everything else required to be left at cloakrooms. Audience members entering the venue were patted down by security staff, there was an increased police presence outside in Tudor Square, and extra security close to the tables.

A World Snooker statement read: “The security of the public and players is always our top priority at every WST event and we have robust measures in place at all times. Following the incident at the Cazoo World Championship on Monday evening, we have increased existing security measures around the event at the Crucible.

“We also continue to liaise with local law enforcement authorities regarding these procedures.” Former WST chairman Barry Hearn has called for far stiffer penalties for those found guilty of offences connected to disrupting major sporting events.

He said: “Sport is an easy option for those who want to disrupt. I would tighten security up, but it would help me if there were more clearly defined penalties for people that are subsequently found guilty of an offence of this nature.

“I don’t see any deterrence. It’s not an anarchy, it’s a democracy. And if people break those rules then there must be a deterrent to stop others doing it again. We have all gone a bit soft.”