Armed Police To Patrol Open Golf
Officers will be on the course to provide reassurance
Armed officers will patrol Royal Birkdale and its surroundings for this year's Open Golf Championship.
Security has been stepped up following the terror attacks on Manchester and London.
The action all gets underway tomorrow morning.
Chief Superintendent Jonathan Roy said:
"Spectators will notice a change in the policing approach to that which they may have seen in previous years as we will be deploying armed police officers, on foot and in vehicles, throughout the course of the Championship.
"The reason for this dedicated deployment of armed officers is not in response to any direct threat aimed at the Open but, in light of recent events, to ensure that we fully able to keep people safe and to give visible reassurance of this to those people attending the event.
"People can also help us by giving themselves extra time to get to the course, arriving in good time and limiting the number of bags and other items they bring along. They should also expect to undergo the normal security checks, including bag and transport searches."