Security boosted at French Anzac service

Bag X-rays and walk-through metal detectors are part of enhanced security plans for the Villers-Bretonneux Anzac service.

Security has been increased for this year's Anzac Day commemorations at Villers-Bretonneux in France. Source: Getty Images

People visiting the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux in France for Anzac Day will face "airport-style" security.

Up to 4000 people are expected to attend Monday's dawn service, and while numbers are lower than previous years, security arrangements have been boosted.

Bag X-rays and walk-through metal detectors are part of the enhanced plans, and visitors would have an experience similar to that at an airport, Major General Dave Chalmers, the Department of Veterans' Affairs head of commemorations and war graves, said.

But while he was keen to point out the improved security, Maj Gen Chalmers said it was about looking ahead to the centenary event at the site in two years, rather than reacting to any specific threat.

"Really, that is no more than, in this day and age, any gathering of people or event has to have," he told AAP on Saturday.

"Each year we try and ensure that we're adding elements to the service and the service logistics that will enable us to deliver a very large service in 2018.

"The security doesn't indicate any specific threat that we're aware of to the service here, and we don't anticipate there is going to be any specific threat, but it's the world we live in now."