Lincolnshire Police has revealed it reviewed its security measures for the 37th annual Lincoln Christmas Market following the London Bridge terror attack that killed two people.
Armed police, some of them undercover, were deployed for the third year in a row, having first been deployed in 2017 following four UK ISIS-supported attacks that year.
Simon Walters, Director of Communities and Environment at the City of Lincoln Council, said prior to the event: “We take the safety of visitors to Lincoln Christmas Market very seriously.
“We work with Lincolnshire Police and our security partners to ensure significant safety and security measures are in place for your visit.”
He added: “Not all of these measures are visible, but some will be. Police officers and security personnel will be present throughout the duration of our event. If you have concerns about anything you see or hear, however small, please make somebody aware. Your concerns will always be taken seriously.”
The Christmas market took place between Thursday December 5, and Sunday December 8 in uphill Lincoln.
Vehicular access was restricted during this period, with the inner cordon completely vehicle free, and the outer cordon having various traffic management restrictions in place.
Key roads were blocked off to protect the 250 stalls and 250,000 expected visitors to Lincoln’s Cathedral Quarter.
Officers were located in pairs throughout 15-20 areas of the market, and police also had the capabilities to access CCTV.
Two drones, with zoom and heat seeking cameras, were deployed by Lincolnshire Police to ensure safety during the day and at night.
Despite the high levels of security, Simon Walters said: “Lincoln Christmas Market is a fantastic, fun, festive event for all of the family and we are confident it will create memories that you will cherish for a long time.”
