Jigsaw puzzles not being sold at Wimbledon as tournament plays catch up after protest disruption
Wimbledon is no longer selling jigsaw puzzles at its shop following yesterday’s disruptions by protesters during two of the tennis tournament’s matches.
Wimbledon jigsaws were scattered by protesters who interrupted Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov’s match against Japanese player Sho Shimabukuro and Briton Katie Boulter’s clash against Australia’s Daria Saville.
Boulter, 26, admitted to being in “shock” but thinks the tournament will react accordingly after a protester disrupted play on Court 18 just two hours after the first protest on the same court.
After a small delay, Boulter won her first-round match against Saville easing through the second set for a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory.
Jigsaws were removed from sale in the onsite shop on Tuesday, and fans could now have to go through a more vigorous bag check when entering the grounds.
There could also be more security guards and police around the Wimbledon site for the rest of the championships to protect the players and courts.
Katie Boulter helps ground staff clear confetti from court 18
The policing minister said sporting organisations were encouraged to use injunctions and hire more marshals and stewards to prevent disruptive protests.
Chris Philp and Home Secretary Suella Braverman met with senior sporting figures and police leaders on protecting Wimbledon and other events on Wednesday.
Mr Philp said ministers are encouraging organisations to consider taking out injunctions to provide more “legal protection”.
Ms Braverman denounced the demonstrators’ “selfish” behaviour.
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Princess at Wimbledon Championships
Just Stop Oil said in the first incident supporters emerged at around 2.10pm and “threw environmentally-friendly orange confetti glitter and jigsaw pieces on to the courts”.
Live TV footage showed two people running out just as Dimitrov was about to take his second serve at the beginning of the second game of the second set against Shimabukuro.
Three Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested and held on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage following the disruptions.
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Tennis stars welcome new period rules
Four home players – Andy Murray, Boulter, Jan Choinski and Liam Broady – are set to play singles matches today, as organisers hope for better weather and no more disruption from activists.
Murray will meet fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round and it has all the hallmarks of another evening thriller under the roof.
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Andy Murray issues warning to Just Stop Oil
Tsitsipas had to play four sets of his fourth-round match on Wednesday, which could help Murray, but is one of the best players in the world.
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina headline the day’s action in the women’s tournament.
Broady opens up proceedings against fourth seed Casper Ruud, while Boulter will look to equal her best effort at Wimbledon by beating Viktoriya Tomova on Court 12 to reach round three.
Choinski completes the British singles line-up when he takes on his former doubles partner Hubert Hurkacz in the opening match on Court 18.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an elderly couple died following a fire at their home in St Helens.
Peter Eric Greener, 77, known as Eric, and his partner Sheila Jackson, 83, were caught in the blaze at their home on South John Street in the early hours of Tuesday.
Mr Greener died on Wednesday, while Ms Jackson died on Thursday.
Eric Greener. Pic: Merseyside Police
Sheila Jackson. Pic: Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police said an accelerant was used to start the fire.
On Sunday, the force said the suspect from St Helens had been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for questioning.
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Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: “Although an arrest has been made, I would like to take this opportunity to remind people to pass on information directly to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers, and not to comment or post in any way which jeopardises this ongoing work.”
DS Wilson said “extensive enquiries” continue.
She added: “And to that end we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward, particularly if you live in the area of South John Street and recall seeing or hearing anything suspicious at around the time of the incident.
“Please do not assume what you know has already been reported to us, as we can quickly make that assessment.”
UK
How e-bike riders are doing double the speed limit – and many of them work for fast food delivery firms
It’s lunchtime on Birmingham’s New Street.
Close to its many restaurants, food delivery riders are congregating on their bikes.
The area is packed with shoppers and workers.
PC Paige Gartlan is approaching with other officers. She’s on the lookout for illegally modified e-bikes – and she knows she’ll find them here.
“You can physically tell by looking at the bike that it’s generally going to be illegal – the battery pack is taped on to the sides and generally the size of the motor that’s on the back wheel,” she explains.
Sky News has been invited on an operation by West Midlands Police to find these bikes and get them off the streets.
PC Gartlan has been hit by one before. She’s had to tackle a rider to the floor after he drove into her.
Within minutes, she’s spotted a suspicious-looking bike. The rider makes a run for it – followed by plain-clothed officers.
PC Gartlan tests the bike – it’s showing a top speed of 52km/hr on the speedometer – just over 30mph.
PC Paige Gartlan with a seized e-bike
The speed limit for e-bikes in the UK is 15.5mph when using electric power for assistance.
I look up the street and another two riders have been detained. In less than an hour, officers have confiscated four bikes – all were being ridden by fast food delivery drivers.
The commotion is attracting a lot of attention.
“They are dangerous,” Sandra, who has just finished work, tells me.
Demoz had his bike taken by police
She’s stood watching the riders being questioned. She says she’s had near-misses herself and is worried for the safety of the elderly and children.
It’s not just West Midlands police officers here – immigration officials are carrying out checks too. They’re involved in a nationwide operation, which has seen more than 7,000 arrests in the last year – a 50% increase on last year.
Matthew Foster, the immigration enforcement lead officer for the West Midlands, tells me they’ve already found one individual who has entered the UK unlawfully.
“He’s been detained,” he says, “to affect his removal from the UK.”
Further down the street, police are loading illegally modified bikes on to a van – they’re destined to be crushed. One of them had belonged to Demoz.
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An e-bike seized by West Midlands Police
He’s on his way home, carrying a big box with the logo of one of the main fast food delivery firms on it.
He tells me he used to have an illegal bike, but he thought his new one was legal.
“I make a mistake, I have to say sorry, I will do better for the future,” he says.
I get in touch with the big delivery firms; Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat.
Their representatives say they constantly remind workers of their safety obligations, and that they’re all working closely with the government to increase security checks on riders.
As he leaves, Demoz, now bike-free, tells me he’s thinking of changing his job.
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