Officers considering legal action against Police Scotland over Trump visit plans
Thousands of officers are expected to be involved in what Police Scotland has described as a 'significant policing operation'.
The White House confirmed Mr Trump will visit his golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire between July 25 and 29.
He will meet the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the First Minister John Swinney during his private trip.
The visit is likely to result in widespread protests, following similar demonstrations during his last visit to Scotland.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF, suggested planning for the visit has already put officers at risk.
He said: 'We currently have workforce agreements in place to protect police officers and provide minimum standards of Health and Safety at work.
'Sadly, we have seen these agreements breached in the days leading to the arrival of Potus (President of the United States) and as such we are seeking legal advice regarding potential legal action against the service.'
Speaking to STV News, Mr Kennedy said he had 'major concerns' about the plans to police Mr Trump's trip.
He told the broadcaster: 'We do not have enough police officers in Scotland.
'Anyone that says we do, I don't know where they get those figures from.
'We know what police officers have to do day in, day out and we need more officers in Scotland.
'When these events come along that puts those officers that are here under so much pressure.'
Police Scotland said earlier this month it would seek help from the Scottish and UK Governments over the 'considerable' cost of policing the visit.
It has also asked for support from Northern Ireland's police force, the PSNI.
There had been speculation the King would host the American leader in Scotland after a meeting was suggested at Balmoral or Dumfries House, in a letter he wrote to Mr Trump in February inviting him to make the state visit.
But it is understood that both sides will wait until the president's official state visit later this year.
Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said: 'We are working closely with the Scottish Police Federation to address any concerns they may have.'
A spokesperson for the PSNI said: 'There are well established processes for any UK-based police services to request support from other services at times of peak demand.
'These requests are managed via the National Police Co-ordination Centre (NPoCC) and we can confirm that PSNI have received a request to provide mutual aid to Police Scotland which we are currently assessing.
'The decision to provide officers under the mutual aid process will be considered against our own demands, ensuring that we retain the capacity to respond effectively to local issues and maintain our own operational competence.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
a few seconds ago
- South Wales Guardian
No arrests made at anti-Trump demonstrations, police say
A 50-year-old woman was issued with a recorded police warning in connection with alleged threatening behaviour at a Stop Trump Scotland protest outside the US consulate in Edinburgh on Saturday, but no arrests were made, according to Police Scotland. In Glasgow, a woman aged 49 was arrested at a 'mass deportation rally' led by Ukip's Nick Tenconi, which was met by a counter-protest in George Square. The woman, who was a counter-protester, was arrested in connection with an alleged obstruction of the police and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. Police Scotland said two arrests were made in Aberdeen at 'other events' on Saturday, but not at a huge anti-Trump demonstration in the city. A spokesperson said the force 'took action at demonstrations and protest events' but did not make any arrests at Trump rallies across the country. In Aberdeen, an 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with a number of outstanding warrants and will appear in court at a later date, according to Police Scotland. A 56-year-old man will be the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal after an alleged assault in Aberdeen city centre. Police Scotland said they could not give further details.
The Independent
a few seconds ago
- The Independent
New FEMA grants set to hand out $600M to states so they can build migrant detention facilities
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is planning to give out more than $608 million in grants to states and local jurisdictions to build more immigration detention facilities, as the Trump administration seeks to expand U.S. detention capacity and quickly deport millions of people. 'This will relieve overcrowding in the U.S. Custom and Border Protection's short-term holding facilities, further the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's immigration enforcement plans and complement U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operational priorities,' the agency wrote in a notice detailing the new Detention Support Grant Program. The funding will support the creation of more facilities like Florida's ' Alligator Alcatraz ' detention center, a converted swamp airstrip where detainees say they have faced inhumane conditions, abuse, and highly restricted access to legal counsel. The facility has faced legal challenges from environmental, tribal, and civil rights groups. Florida has said it will seek federal reimbursement for the facility, which has already cost the state $245 million in contracts to build and operate. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said the federal government will seek to reimburse Florida through FEMA's $650 million shelter and services program — money outside the agency's disaster budget relief set aside by Congress under Joe Biden's administration to cover the cost of housing migrants. The government has also ramped up spending on federal facilities, awarding a $1.26 billion contract to build a sprawling tent facility at an Army base in Texas that will be the largest immigrant detention center in the country. The Trump administration's One Big, Beautiful Bill spending package awards ICE an additional $45 billion for detaining migrants, a virtually unprecedented funding increase. The detention spending spree comes as the Trump administration has sought to reduce FEMA's federal footprint. In April, FEMA announced it was ending the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program focused on preventing natural disasters, prompting a lawsuit from Democrat-led states. The Trump administration has also rejected 16 of the 18 applications for FEMA's 'hazard mitigation' funds after flooding across the country this year, according to an analysis from The Hill. However, this week, the White House announced four states that had recently been hit with disasters would get emergency funding: Indiana, which experienced deadly tornadoes in March; Michigan, which experienced ice storms in March; Kentucky, which experienced flooding and tornadoes in April and May; and West Virginia, which experienced flooding and tornadoes in June. The administration said earlier in the year it would eliminate FEMA entirely, moving disaster response to the states, but has since backtracked, saying it seeks a rebranding at the agency rather than a total shutdown.
Scottish Sun
a few seconds ago
- Scottish Sun
Eye-watering sum Scottish Government spent on empty rooms for refugees revealed
More than 28,000 people with a Scottish sponsor have arrived in the UK so far EMPTY ROOM BILL Eye-watering sum Scottish Government spent on empty rooms for refugees revealed THE Scottish Government has spent up to £75million on empty hotel rooms for Ukrainian refugees, we can reveal. Figures show £294million of taxpayers' cash has been used to reserve shelter for those fleeing Russia's invasion since 2022. Advertisement 1 Scottish Tory shadow housing minister Meghan Gallacher called the bill 'eye-watering' Credit: Alamy But between 10 and 25 per cent of rooms were unoccupied at any given time, suggesting £30million to £75million has been wasted. Scottish Tory shadow housing minister Meghan Gallacher called the bill 'eye-watering'. She added: 'Like thousands of Scots, vulnerable Ukrainians are being forced to live in temporary accommodation because of SNP ministers' failure to build enough homes. 'That's unfair on them and unfair on taxpayers.' Advertisement The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has sparked a major humanitarian crisis. And more than 28,000 people with a Scottish sponsor have arrived in the UK so far. The administration refused to name the hotel companies over 'potential risks' if the information became 'public knowledge'. But the 'vast majority of this money' was paid to a firm called Corporate Travel Management which organises accommodation and contracts. Advertisement A whopping £144million was paid out 2022-23, more than £108million in 2023-24, and almost £40million in 2024-25. Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: 'Providing support and sanctuary to people fleeing Russia's illegal war against Ukraine continues to be a priority.' The Sun tracks down Ukrainian mother and child pictured fleeing Putin's war on our front page A Government spokesman said: 'Welcome accommodation occupancy rates were inevitably subject to daily fluctuations as some individuals left while others entered accommodation.'
