Security at Westminster Abbey
Tuesday, 2nd July 2013
The Abbey is experiencing a heightened threat to its security.
It will be necessary to increase our security measures, and for the foreseeable future the bags of all those coming to the Abbey, both visitors and worshippers, will be searched before entry.
We are reluctant to take these additional precautions, but have no choice if we are to safeguard the long-term interests of the Abbey.
In a recent incident, paint was thrown by a visitor to the Abbey at the monument to Dean Willcocks located on the south side of the Nave. It has, fortunately, been possible for Abbey conservators to remove all traces of the paint without damage to the memorial itself.
This is the second incident of this type in the Abbey over the last few weeks and appears to be part of an organised campaign unrelated to the Abbey.
