Silverstone, 2022

Police issue warning over protesters’ plan to disrupt British Grand Prix

2022 British Grand Prix

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Northamptonshire police believe protesters are planning to disrupt the British Grand Prix, and have warned them not to do so.

The police force local to Silverstone Circuit suspects protesters are planning a track invasion.

In a public statement, chief inspector Tom Thompson said: “We have received credible intelligence that a group of protestors are planning to disrupt the event and possibly invade the track on race day.

“First of all, I want to appeal directly to this group of people and strongly urge you to not put yourselves, the drivers, as well as the many marshals, volunteers and members of the public, at risk.

“Going onto a live race track is extremely dangerous – if you go ahead with this reckless plan you are jeopardising lives.

“Protesting is of course everyone’s human right in this country and we are more than happy to speak with you to help you facilitate a peaceful protest at the circuit, we just please ask that you do not create a situation that puts lives in danger.”

There has previously been a protest during the British Grand Prix in 2020, when Extinction Rebellion activists entered the closed track. That race was closed to spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Four people were arrested after banners were displayed over the circuit during the race. The police statement did not indicate which group it had reason to believe would try to disrupt the event.

Northamptonshire police said they have “planned an extremely wide-ranging policing operation which covers contingencies such as these and as such, extra resources will be in place throughout the race weekend should anyone ignore these warnings and try to disrupt the event.”

Thompson added: “We are very experienced in the policing of this event having done so over a number of years but let me make this clear – this doesn’t make us complacent. The security measures we have put in place are as stringent as ever and anyone thinking of taking advantage of the race weekend to commit a crime will be caught.

“Finally, I would just appeal to members of the public to be extra vigilant and to make us aware of anything you see during the race weekend that doesn’t look right. We would rather get a well-meaning report that turns out to be nothing, than not receive one at all.

“If you see or suspect anything suspicious, please report it to a member of the police or security.”

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Author information

Hazel Southwell
Hazel is a motorsport and automotive journalist with a particular interest in hybrid systems, electrification, batteries and new fuel technologies....

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14 comments on “Police issue warning over protesters’ plan to disrupt British Grand Prix”

  1. Can you imagine the reaction from 100,000 die-hard F1 fans? Methinks something of a physical response….

  2. My request is to wait until monotony sets in, don’t interrupt an interesting race. Ta.

  3. “Protesting is of course everyone’s human right in this country and we are more than happy to speak with you to help you facilitate a peaceful protest at the circuit, we just please ask that you do not create a situation that puts lives in danger.”

    Four people were arrested after banners were displayed over the circuit during the race. The police statement did not indicate which group it had reason to believe would try to disrupt the event.

    Rather contradictory.

    1. Indeed our rights to protest peacefully have been significantly reduced by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, not too loud (ill defined) with other police powers to suppress “seriously disruptive” protests, also ill defined and at the discretion of the police. Hmmmm..

    2. “Four people were arrested after banners were displayed over the circuit during the race. The police statement did not indicate which group it had reason to believe would try to disrupt the event.”

      – This from 2020, protestors arrested for trespassing at the closed circuit during lockdown.
      Totally different

  4. Interesting to note how foolishly tolerant the UK police have been with these protesters/virtue signalers.
    Both Spain & France just dragged them off the roads & turfed em aside over the crash barriers.
    Their police also arrested every one of them quick sharp once they arrived on scene.
    Not UK way. Lots of chat & even fetching them water to drink etc etc.
    You couldn’t make it up!!

    1. Maybe they want to have a repeat of 2003 British GP to spice things up and add some extra controversy and drama? Because that’s what F1 is all about these days.

    2. @wildbiker France when? I don’t recall any track invasions on either Circuit Paul Ricard or Magny-Cours.
      One in Spain back in 2004, 2015 Singapore GP, 2000 German GP, & Shanghai FP1 or 2 in 2015.

      1. The French police would just stand back and allow them to continue just like with the yellow vest protestors. I live in France and the yellow vests caused absolute mayhem at the end of 2018 blocking roads making people 3 hours late for work, people missing flights at the airport etc and the cops did nothing. If anything the cops were encouraging them

    3. @wildbiker The UK police’s attitude is that if protesting would upset the owner of the venue, it has to happen somewhere else. While the phrasing of the release sounds inviting, it’s more likely an attempt to prevent such protests through paperwork (less flashy but also less bothersome to people who aren’t actually involved in the protest, since protests that are paper-blocked often never get past the planning stage).

  5. Surprising, but hopefully, nothing happens in the end.

  6. They should do it on a sprint weekend instead

  7. some racing fan
    1st July 2022, 19:00

    Hopefully these people don’t do what that psychotic priest did in 2003. It was a miracle he wasn’t killed.

  8. If anything happens it should be a red flag straight away. In 2003 it should have been a red flag because by deploying the safety car it still gives a mentally ill intruder the opportunity to throw themselves under a car

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