Drones and armed police to target Royal Ascot troublemakers
Police drones, armed patrols and teams of sniffer dogs will feature as Royal Ascot targets troublemakers with a 'zero-tolerance' security operation.
Festivities spilt over into a handful of minor brawls last year, but police say they have a 'comprehensive' plan to keep arrests to a minimum at the meeting, which starts on Tuesday.
Cocaine use in the crowds has become an increasing concern for Royal Ascot, and all major events, in recent years. Police last year made 36 arrests during Royal Ascot, the vast majority off site. Allegations included assault, drink driving and possession of class A drugs. Those arrest numbers are consistent with previous years, with 35 in 2023.
A 'wide range of activities' from Thames Valley Police to stop rowdy behaviour spilling over will include police horse teams and the force's drone unit. Police combine efforts with Ascot's own privately hired security teams, who have been routinely using sniffer dogs since 2018.
Fliss Barnard, chief executive of Ascot Racecourse, told Telegraph Sport that 'as we do every year we have a zero tolerance to anti-social behaviour of all types'. 'We will be rigorous, as we always are, at the entrances, dogs, search of bags,' she added. 'We are vigilant and, on site, if we are alerted to something, people will be removed instantly.'
Barnard underlined there were 'not many arrests last year'. 'As long as you communicate ahead of time what people can and can't do, then you have absolute licence to remove people and act very swiftly if something's not right,' she added. 'I'm very confident of that.'
Police have been working with Ascot Racecourse Limited and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on this year's security plan. Superintendent Colin Hudson, commander for the event, told Telegraph Sport: 'Over the coming week, local residents will notice an increased police presence in and around Ascot. Our teams will be carrying out a wide range of activities as part of our comprehensive policing operation.
'You'll see a variety of officers on duty, from mounted section and roads policing teams to armed and unarmed officers patrolling on foot. In addition to these visible measures, we'll also have less obvious security in place, including our drone unit, who will be keeping a watchful eye over the event from above.
'These measures are all part of our commitment to keeping everyone safe and ensuring Royal Ascot remains an enjoyable experience for all. We look forward to welcoming racegoers and working alongside our teams to deliver a safe and successful event.'
A Thames Valley Police spokeswoman said: 'Local residents can expect to start seeing more of the visible elements of these plans from this week.'
In a security clampdown in 2018, there was the first widespread use of sniffer dogs near the main entrances as well as around bar and toilet areas at the site. An Ascot spokesman said 'all the usual policies are in place to reduce anti-social behaviour'.
The event's 'drugs and intoxication policy' adds that 'measures are in place to prevent the introduction or use of illegal drugs at the racecourse, including search on entry and sniffer dogs trained in their detection'. 'Any signs of intoxication during the course of the event will lead to immediate ejection,' it adds on its website.
Ascot is confounding falling attendances at other major racing events, with up to 300,000 racegoers anticipated across the week.
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