Latest news with #ScottishPoliceFederation
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Scots police throw-up ring of steel to protect Trump as President flies in to a security operation as big as the arrangements for Queen's funeral
Donald Trump's visit to Scotland will require a security operation as big as the arrangements for the Queen's funeral – involving up to 6,000 officers. Taxpayers face a bill of more than £3million for policing his stay which begins on Friday and ends next Tuesday and will include trips to the President's golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire. The Mail can reveal around 5,000 Police Scotland officers will be needed for the 'large-scale, complex' Operation Roll 2 – the codename for policing the visit - with a further 1,000 drafted in from the rest of the UK under mutual aid arrangements. Today a 'ring of steel' was thrown up at Trump Turnberry - Mr Trump's luxury hotel and golf course in Ayrshire – with 10ft perimeter fencing erected as security measures are ramped up by officers with road closures now being put in place in and around the area. Several 'road closed' signs have been placed on the road, as well as checkpoints for 'authorised access'. Chinook helicopters were spotted at Prestwick Airport and on Monday US military planes and helicopters gathered ahead of his arrival. Last night the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), representing rank-and-file officers, rubbished assurances from top brass that day-to-day policing would not be impacted by the visit as 'utter nonsense' - warning that the waiting time for officer call-outs could double. General secretary David Kennedy said: 'It will have an impact – whereas now you might be waiting for four hours for a cop to turn up to a call, during the visit it is more likely to be eight hours.' He spoke out after the SPF said it was seeking legal advice as it believes the operation breaches workplace arrangements – but the Mail understands the dispute, in relation to overtime payments, has been resolved. The White House confirmed Mr Trump will visit his golf courses and intends to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Swinney during his private trip. Previous visits have drawn widespread demonstrations in Scotland's main cities. In 2018, a paraglider was able to enter the no-fly zone above the golf course at Turnberry and fly a banner reading: 'Trump - Below Par.' Mr Trump was on the front steps of the hotel as the light aircraft approached and was ushered inside by armed police officers. One of the groups most vocal in its plans to protest against the U.S. President's visit is the Stop Trump Coalition, which posted on social media platform X on Monday: 'On every street in Britain we reject Trump & his politics of hate, & we will meet him with protests all over the place!' The Scottish Police Authority is spending £350,182 on hiring security barriers and fencing related to Mr Trump's visit. At a media briefing in Glasgow today, Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond, Police Scotland's 'gold commander' for Mr Trump's visit, said the operation would be the biggest for Scottish policing since the Queen's funeral in 2022. The Mail understands it will be - 'in the same category' as Operation Unicorn – the codename for policing events around the late monarch's funeral. Ms Bond has encouraged protest groups to discuss their plans with police ahead of the visit, adding: 'The key very much is to make sure the President of the United States can come, enjoy a peaceful and safe visit to Scotland and ensure Police Scotland is able to maintain delivery of services to the rest of the community within Scotland over the period of his visit.' Police are working on the assumption there will be protests in Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Ms Bond said there is nothing at this stage to give her 'specific concern' about violence. Asked for her message to those considering disruptive protest, she said 'Police Scotland fully recognises people's right to peaceful protest... 'We would wish to make sure we can balance those rights against the impact on communities, on public safety. 'I would appeal to people obviously to stay within the bounds of peaceful protest. 'I'd be really clear however that abusive, threatening behaviour, any activity that's intended to disrupt events or in any way that poses a risk to public safety is not legitimate protest and will potentially require an intervention by policing.' Ms Bond said Police Scotland had been unable to pinpoint specifics of Operation Roll 2 because it does not yet know the President's movements in detail. She said 'multiple venues' are being factored into the force's forward planning. While she would not be drawn on whether the last-minute scheduling was hampering operational planning, Ms Bond said: 'The specifics of the schedule will be something for the White House to manage, and we will deal with whatever comes up. 'Policing continuously works in a world of ambiguity on occasion.' Ms Bond said its aim was to 'ensure that Police Scotland is able to maintain delivery of services' to the rest of Scotland during Mr Trump's stay – which the SPF said would be impossible due to the scale of manpower needed. All of the force's 84 protest liaison officers will be deployed across the weekend but Ms Bond declined to comment on how many officers in total would be involved in the operation, nor the expected cost. Mr Trump's 2018 visit – from July 12-15 - cost Police Scotland £3,022,544, paid for by the Treasury which funded the full cost - cash that was routed through the Scottish Government to the force. This year the cost is expected to be even higher as Mr Trump's stay will be longer. Officers will be working longer shifts than usual and leave over the period has been cancelled, meaning a significant investment in overtime costs will be needed. An appeal has been made to the Police Service of Northern Ireland for additional resources over the visit and Ms Bond said her officers have had 'direct engagement' with the U.S. Secret Service. Mr Trump's course in Aberdeenshire is to hold a tournament beginning the day after he leaves Scotland and the force is also policing that event. Today Mr Swinney said policing in Scotland will not be 'put in a detrimental position' because of the cost of Mr Trump's visit. Asked whether that funding would have to come from the already allocated policing budget, the First Minister said: 'We'll obviously work closely with Police Scotland on the funding of this policing operation and make sure that policing in Scotland is not in any way put in a detrimental position as a consequence of the visit of President Trump.'
STV News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
First Minister 'confident' in Police Scotland ahead of Donald Trump visit
John Swinney has said he's 'confident' that Police Scotland has the resources and planning to deal with Donald Trump's visit and ensure it's 'safe and secure.' The US President will visit Scotland for the first time during his second term this week. It's the biggest policing operation that Police Scotland has faced since Queen Elizabeth's death. The First Minister told STV News that the operation will undoubtedly 'put demands' on Police Scotland, but that he is 'confident' that the operation will be 'managed effectively'. 'This will be an exceptional event that will have significant demands on policing,' Swinney said. 'I'm confident Police Scotland has the resources and planning in place to deal with the situation and make sure events around and about President Trump are safe and secure, which is our duty to make sure is the case, but also that members of public who wish to make their views clear or who wish to protest are able to do so peacefully and within the law.' The First Minister's comments come less than 24 hours after Police Scotland officers said they were considering taking legal action over the plans surrounding Trump's visit. Following a meeting on Monday to discuss the operational plans ahead of Trump's visit to Scotland, the Scottish Police Federation, which represents 98% of the country's officers, sought legal advice. The Federation believes the operation breaches legally binding workplace arrangements and the Presidential visit will have a significant impact on officers. General secretary David Kennedy told STV News: 'This is a big event for Police Scotland, but we have major concerns. 'We do not have enough police officers in Scotland. Anyone that says we do, I don't know where they get those figures from. Police Scotland has submitted a request for 'mutual aid' to the force in Northern Ireland ahead of Trump's visit later this week. However, Swinney said this type of request is 'routine' for significant events, and that demands will be 'managed effectively' by Police Scotland as they undertake all of their operations. 'Police Scotland have got a complex job to do to plan for a significant operation of this type,' the First Minister said. 'And I'm confident that is being done effectively and systematically by Police Scotland.' Swinney also urged protesters to express their views 'peacefully' and 'within the law'. 'Police Scotland will make sure people's democratic right to protest is able to be exercised within the law as well as making sure that all necessary security that has to be in place for this operation is in place,' he said. Trump will be at both of his golf courses in Scotland: Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire, between July 25 and 29. The President will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Aberdeen, while plans are being put in place for him to meet Swinney, according to the Scottish Government. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Police warn against 'threatening' behaviour during President Trump's visit to Scotland
Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said people should act "within the bounds of peaceful protest". A senior police officer has warned against "abusive" and "threatening" protests in the run up to President Trump's five day visit to Scotland. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond urged protestors to stay within the law as she said the priority will be for the US president to have a 'peaceful and safe' visit. Known as Operation Roll, the exact numbers of police involved have not been revealed but it is expected to require Police Scotland's entire cadre of police liaison officers. The White House confirmed Trump will visit his golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire between July 25 and 29. He will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and 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. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Bond encouraged protest groups to discuss their plans with police ahead of the visit. She said: 'As you can imagine, it is a large-scale, complex operation, but actually that's something that Police Scotland is immensely experienced at doing.' The policing plan involves local, national and specialist officer from Police Scotland as well as other forces. She added: 'The key very much is to make sure the President of the United States can come, enjoy a peaceful and safe visit to Scotland and ensure Police Scotland is able to maintain delivery of services to the rest of the community within Scotland over the period of his visit.' Police are working on the assumption there will be protests in Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, she said. Bond said Police Scotland will take a 'proportionate' approach to ensure people can protest safely, with the force offering to engage with demonstrators ahead of time on a 'no surprises' basis. However she said there is nothing at this stage to give her 'specific concern' about violence. Scottish Police Federation are 'being resolved'. The organisation, which represents rank and file officers, said workforce agreements around health and safety may be breached. Asked for her message to those considering disruptive protest, she said ' Police Scotland fully recognises people's right to peaceful protest… 'We would wish to make sure we can balance those rights against against the impact on communities, on public safety. 'I would appeal to people obviously to stay within the bounds of peaceful protest. 'I'd be really clear however that abusive, threatening behaviour, any activity that's intended to disrupt events or in any way that poses a risk to public safety is not legitimate protest and will potentially require an intervention by policing.'
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Police Scotland ramps up security for Donald Trump visit as road closures start to appear days before President arrives
TRUMPED UP Police Scotland ramps up security for Donald Trump visit as road closures start to appear days before President arrives Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) COPS are ramping up security at Donald Trump's golf courses days before the President is set to arrive in Scotland. Mr Trump will visit both of his Scottish courses at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire between July 25 and 29. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Cops are ramping up security measures around Turnberry ahead of Donald Trump's visit Credit: John Kirkby 7 A ring of steel has been put up around the resort Credit: John Kirkby 7 There are now road closures and checkpoints around the course Credit: John Kirkby 7 The Republican chief is getting set to jet into Scotland for the first time in two years Credit: PA He will also open his second course at Menie named after his late mother Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on the Isle of Lewis. The President will also meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney. Security measures are being ramped up by officers with road closures now being put in place in and around Turnberry. Pictures show officers stopping cars and speaking to drivers outside the Ayrshire resort. Several 'road closed' signs have been placed on the road, as well as checkpoints for 'authorised access'. A new fence has also been put up alongside the resort on Maidens Road and the A77. Cops were also spotted walking around the course yesterday. It comes after fears that Mr Trump could be assassinated during his visit are being assessed by police and security services, a top cop representative revealed. David Threadgold, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said there 'is a huge amount of threat assessment and intelligence gathering' taking place ahead of the US President arriving. Protests are also expected to take place outside his golf courses. Donald Trump spotted pocketing Club World Cup winners medal as president walks off stage And Dalek-style lookouts have sprung up at Turnberry, in Ayrshire, and Menie, Aberdeenshire. The bizarre-looking devices have cameras and motion sensors capable of detecting intruders. Towers with thermal imaging cameras capable of detecting fires are also in place for the private trip. A ring of steel is being teed up as the Republican chief gets set to jet into Scotland for the first time in two years. We previously told how cops in marked and unmarked cars were spotted at Turnberry and white tents were also being set up. A ban on unmanned aircraft, parachutes and drones is also in force at Balmedie. 7 Pictures show officers stopping cars and speaking to drivers outside the Ayrshire resort Credit: John Kirkby 7 Police officers have been spotted in and around the course this week Credit: John Kirkby A senior police officer has urged those who wish to protest during to stay within the law, as she said the priority will be for the US President to have a "peaceful and safe" visit. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said the operation to police the five-day visit will involve "significant" resources, requiring Police Scotland to draw on mutual aid agreements with other forces. Known as Operation Roll, it is expected to require Police Scotland's entire cadre of police liaison officers. Speaking to journalists today, she encouraged protest groups to discuss their plans with police ahead of the visit. She said: "As you can imagine, it is a large-scale, complex operation, but actually that's something that Police Scotland is immensely experienced at doing." The policing plan involves local, national and specialist officers from Police Scotland as well as other forces. She added: "The key very much is to make sure the President of the United States can come, enjoy a peaceful and safe visit to Scotland and ensure Police Scotland is able to maintain delivery of services to the rest of the community within Scotland over the period of his visit." Police are working on the assumption there will be protests in Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, she said. Ms Bond said Police Scotland will take a "proportionate" approach to ensure people can protest safely, with the force offering to engage with demonstrators ahead of time on a "no surprises" basis. However she said there is nothing at this stage to give her "specific concern" about violence. We previously told how Police Scotland is facing legal action from its own officers in a row over overtime payments and lieu ahead of Donald Trump's visit. The Scottish Police Federation said the force promised to 'provide minimum standards of health and safety at work' during the visit. And fed General Secretary David Kennedy said the dispute relates the absence of a proper workforce plan for the visit. He said: 'Sadly, we have seen these agreements breached in the days leading to the arrival of POTUS and as such we are seeking legal advice regarding potential legal action against the service.' Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Bond also said that concerns raised by the Scottish Police Federation are "being resolved".
Scottish Sun
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Police Scotland faces being sued by own officers over Donald Trump visit
The move has led to fears it will be putting even more pressure on stretched cops TRUMP TRIP ROW Police Scotland faces being sued by own officers over Donald Trump visit Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) POLICE Scotland is facing legal action from its own officers in a row over overtime payments and lieu ahead of Donald Trump's visit to Scotland later this week. The Scottish Police Federation said the force promised to 'provide minimum standards of health and safety at work' during the visit. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mr Trump will visit both golf courses in Scotland at Turnberry and the Menie Estate Credit: AFP 3 Scottish Police Federation General Secretary David Kennedy Credit: Alamy Mr Trump will visit both golf courses in Scotland at Turnberry in Ayrshire and the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. And fed General Secretary David Kennedy said the dispute relates the absence of a proper workforce plan for the visit. He said: 'Sadly, we have seen these agreements breached in the days leading to the arrival of POTUS and as such we are seeking legal advice regarding potential legal action against the service.' Trump also have a face to face with PM Keir Starmer in Aberdeen. But the move has led to fears it will be putting even more pressure on stretched cops. He said: 'It's to do with when officers can be told how many hours they need to work, the notification period they get, what they work, when they work, what shifts they work. 'Because they have been breached we have to take legal advice over that. 'We have had verbal communication from Police Scotland that they want to resolve this so we are hopeful that will happen and legal action won't have to be taken. 'But there hasn't been an event in the last five to six years that we have not had prolonged talks about what officers are owed financially, and timewise what they are due to get back, after any event.' SPF chairman David Threadgold confirmed Police Scotland is stretched enough as it is without having to deal with Trump. Donald Trump spotted pocketing Club World Cup winners medal as president walks off stage He told the BBC: 'We are facing increasing demand for our services against a backdrop of reducing police officers.' Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond: 'We are working closely with the Scottish Police Federation to address any concerns they may have.' Scots Tories justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: 'It's a damning reflection of how badly the SNP's savage cuts have affected Scottish policing that the SPF don't believe their members can safely staff the presidential visit, while their bosses are pleading for reinforcements from Northern Ireland.'
