Police Scotland deny putting pressure on staff over ‘complex' Trump visit
Trump will open a new 18-hole golf course at his resort on the North Sea coast at Menie, north of Aberdeen, named in honour of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who was born on the Isle of Lewis. He is also expected to meet the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, during his visit.
Assistant chief constable Emma Bond told media on Tuesday that the 'large-scale, complex' operation would be the largest in Scotland since the death of Elizabeth II in 2022, and would include local officers, national divisions, special constables and wider UK colleagues for specialist support.
Bond, who is gold commander for the policing plan, said the force was also in direct communication with US Secret Service and their priority was to ensure the president 'enjoys a peaceful and safe visit to Scotland' while maintaining policing services for the rest of the population.
On Monday, representatives of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, raised concerns that there were insufficient officer numbers to support the plan and said they were seeking legal advice with some staff already under pressure to work longer hours in breach of workplace agreements.
Bond said that senior commanders 'fully recognise' the concerns raised by the policing union and were working with them to address those. 'I'm confident as gold commander that we can deliver the strategy as set out,' she added.
While she refused to confirm the specific numbers of officers to be involved, a request for 'mutual aid' has been made by Police Scotland to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Bond used the briefing to set out the force's plans for policing the 'significant' protests expected to accompany Trump's visit. She noted the 'thousands' who took to the streets during his last visit in 2018, which saw gatherings in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen as well as flying over the US president's Turnberry golf club.
She said Police Scotland's starting point was a 'positive and engaged approach', but added: 'Let me be very clear: abusive threatening behaviour, any activity that seeks to disrupt an event or that puts the safety of the public at risk is not lawful protest.'
Bond said the force was keen to engage with protest groups in advance but that it had not yet spoken to the Stop Trump Coalition, one of the main organisers, which has called for people to gather in Edinburgh and Aberdeen on Saturday.
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