Police bill for Trump visit could rise to £5m
MORE than 5,000 officers will be needed to police Donald Trump’s possible visit to Scotland next month, say force chiefs.
Police Scotland has cancelled leave under a £5million emergency strategy to cope with an expected wave of protests.
It has been suggested the US President will drop in at his golf courses at Turnberry, Ayrshire, and Menie, Aberdeenshire, while in the UK next month.
But interim Chief Constable Iain Livingstone admitted yesterday that the cost of the operation may have to come out of the force’s already over-stretched budget.
He told a board meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA): ‘We do not have final confirmation that the President will include any specific engagements in Scotland. However, we do have to prepare for such an eventuality.
‘Even without a confirmed visit or itinerary we need to consider a wide variety of policing factors, from the deployment of appropriate security measures that would be required… and the policing of potential events in relation to his visit, which would include potential demonstration and protest.’
He added: ‘We estimate… we will have to utilise over 5,000 conventional officers along with public order officers and specialist search and firearms resources.’
Mr Livingstone also said: ‘Even if he doesn’t [come north of the Border], there is still the potential for a number of events in Scotland to have implications for us, given his ties to Scotland.’
Asked by SPA chairman Susan Deacon what the operation’s likely cost will be, he replied the estimates are around £5million, ‘which is clearly a significant impact on an already very disciplined and focused budget’. He said: ‘We don’t really have clarity at this stage about where, if at all, such additional funding could be sought.’
SPA interim chief officer Kenneth Hogg pledged to forward any bill to officials in Edinburgh ‘who, in turn, should seek reimbursement from the UK Government in line with normal practice.’
Mr Trump’s first presidential visit to the UK is due between July 12 and 15. Though it has been confirmed he will hold talks with Theresa May on July 13, there are no further details of his itinerary.
Scottish Labour justice spokesman Daniel Johnson said: ‘It cannot be right £5million of taxpayers’ money is going to be spent policing an event no one wants and Scotland does not need. The Scottish and UK Governments should insist the White House pays for any additional security required – or better yet ask him to cancel the trip entirely.’
David Hamilton, Scottish Police Federation vice-chairman, said: ‘The force cannot be expected to find the £5million from its own budget.’
The Home Office would not discuss whether or not it would be helping Police Scotland cover additional costs.
A spokesman said: ‘Details of the President’s visit have not been confirmed but the UK Government is, of course, in contact with our partners.’