
Police Scotland seeks support from PSNI for Trump visit
Police in the province have also been busy with security around the world's top golf tournament, The Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club which ended yesterday.
READ MORE:
Police braced for Trump visit with 5,000 officers deployed
Top lawyer warns men accused of rape may not get a fair trial
MSPs raise alarm over soaring welfare costs as bill to rise to over £9 billion
It is not known if the PSNI will be in a position to offer assistance. The request from Police Scotland to the PSNI is currently being assessed.
A spokeswoman for the PSNI told The Herald: "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."
Police unions in Scotland at the weekend warned of a severe strain on resources ahead of Trump's visit with thousands of officers expected to be deployed and major protests planned.
The White House confirmed last week that the US president will travel to his golf resorts at Turnberry and Balmedie between Thursday July 25 and Monday July 29, prompting one of the biggest policing operations in Scotland in recent years. Officers face cancelled rest days, extended shifts and deployment across multiple sites.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, told the Sunday Mail: 'It's a recipe for disaster. We don't have enough cops.
'President Trump is a magnet to certain groups. There will be protests. And just because the President is in one place doesn't mean that's where the protests will take place.
'With this event, it is survival mode. That's the mentality that will set in.'
He added: 'We'll survive but we shouldn't have to just survive. They will need plenty of help from the UK.
'All this costs money and Police Scotland's budget is already bust. Everybody working longer hours and days has a knock-on effect for months, if not years.'
David Threadgold, the Federation's chair, told Scotland on Sunday the service would need to ask for help from other forces: 'This is a huge policing event for Scotland and we will require mutual aid because of the huge demand on my colleagues.
'Very few, if any, cops will not be impacted by next week's visit and beyond.
'I suppose the natural comparison in terms of scale is previous presidential visits and COP26.
'We are talking about bespoke workforce plans because although this is a well-established workforce, we are cognisant we cannot deliver this without impacting on individual officers across the country.
'What that means in simple terms is some may be required to work 12-hour shifts, for example, which normally wouldn't happen.
'That is the type of change cops will see during this event. We also need to consider how officers will eat and drink and rest during this policing, which will be a challenge.'
He added: 'This is already a difficult time for Police Scotland as they are trying to organise and deliver this at short notice during a period of high annual leave.'
Police Scotland was approached for comment.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
22 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment Donald Trump's family plane lands in Scotland ahead of Turnberry visit
Mr Trump will jet into Ayrshire on Air Force 1 between 7.20pm and 8.05pm. TRUMPS IN TOWN Moment Donald Trump's family plane lands in Scotland ahead of Turnberry visit Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S believed Donald Trump's family have landed in Scotland ahead of the US president's four-day visit. A plane often used by his loved ones landed at Prestwick Airport this morning ahead of his own arrival this evening. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A plane with Trump branding has just landed in Scotland. Mr Trump will jet into Ayrshire on Air Force 1 between 7.20pm and 8.05pm - with another no-fly zone from 7.30pm to 8.50pm in place between the airport and his Trump Turnberry hotel and golf course. But footage taken early this morning suggests his family and friends have already landed in Scotland. Onlookers caught a glimpse of the aircraft beside the terminal building - clearly visible from the small village of Monkton. One eagle-eyed punter said: "It looked like a big travel operation was already well underway. "It's not every day you see plane's carrying the US President and his family land on your doorstep." Trump will be here between this evening and next Tuesday and is expected to mix golf and business with key political meetings. He's expected to first visit his luxury Turnberry resort near Girvan, Ayrshire where it's thought he will spend the weekend. On Monday, Trump is expected to travel by air to his other Scots golf resort at Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. Restrictions suggest he will fly there via RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, where air traffic will be restricted between 4.20pm and 5.05pm. There will be a no-fly zone between the airbase and Menie between 4.30pm and 5.45pm on Monday. And the curbs indicate he will leave for Lossiemouth again to return to the US between 2.45pm and 4pm on Tuesday. he airspace around Menie Estate will also be shut off between 8am on Sunday and 3.30pm on Tuesday. The NATS document states: "The President of the United States (POTUS) will visit Scotland between the 25 July 2025 and 29 July 2025, POTUS will visit several locations throughout Scotland and as part of the security arrangements the Secretary of State for Transport has decided that it is necessary, on the grounds of public safety and security, to introduce Restriction of Flying Regulations under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 to restrict the operation of all types of aircraft between 24 July 2025 and 29 July 2025. "Pilots are strongly encouraged to employ the use of moving map technology and/or an air traffic service to mitigate the risk of inadvertent airspace infringements. "In relation to this document, the term 'aircraft' includes any small balloon, any kite, any unmanned aircraft and any parachute including a parascending parachute or paramotor." Trump is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his visit. Sources suggest this will happen on Monday. He will also meet with First Minister John Swinney during his time in Scotland.


BBC News
23 minutes ago
- BBC News
Londonderry: Police say union flag theft was sectarian hate crime
An investigation is underway into the theft of a union flag which was being flown at a civil service building in Londonderry to mark Queen Camilla's News NI understands an Irish tricolour was erected in its Department for Communities said it was aware of the "unauthorised" removal of the union flag from its offices in Lisahally on 17 Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was being treated as a "sectarian hate crime". Under legislation, the union flag is flown from government buildings in Northern Ireland on designated days each was being flown from the civil service building at Lisahally to mark the 78th birthday of Queen Camilla on 17 department did not confirm that the Irish flag was erected on the flagpole. But BBC News NI has spoken to workers who say this was the PSNI said the theft of the union flag was reported to them last Thursday afternoon and they have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) described the removal of the union flag and its replacement with the Irish tricolour as "an idiotic act"."Such silly attention-seeking behaviour is disrespectful and totally unacceptable," Foyle MLA Gary Middleton said. "Those involved should be dealt with by the law."Ulster Unionist councillor Darren Guy said those responsible were fuelled by "hate and sectarianism"."Over the past few weeks, we have had acts of theft and vandalism occur throughout the city and district," he said."Soldier statues beheaded at a memorial in Artigarvan; a historical US flag stolen from Foyle College; poppy wreaths had to be removed immediately after being laid in remembrance of the Battle of the Somme - the one left was stolen that night and countless attacks on Protestant homes in The Fountain [a mainly unionist estate]."Guy criticised the SDLP and Sinn Féin over their response to similar incidents."Yet, these actions fuelled by hate and sectarianism continue, unchallenged, from their own elected representatives," he said."If this is acceptable now, then it's not surprising that unionists will never want to be part of the pipe dream that is a united Ireland."But the criticism was rejected by Sinn Féin and the Féin said it had been "unequivocal, consistent and vocal" in asserting that all cultures must be respected."All and every incident of hate crime must be called out," a spokesperson said."In stark contrast we have seen the selective approach and double standards of unionist politicians in response to illegal bonfires and hate crimes." SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said the incidents were damaging community relations."The SDLP has always called urged tolerance around these issues and condemn those who engage in any attacks, sectarianism or intimidation," he said."I would urge anyone involved in this kind of activity to stop, they are achieving nothing but hurting their own city."

The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Moment Donald Trump's family plane lands in Scotland ahead of Turnberry visit
IT'S believed Donald Trump's family have landed in Scotland ahead of the US president's four-day visit. A plane often used by his loved ones landed at Prestwick Airport this morning ahead of his own arrival this evening. Mr Trump will jet into Ayrshire on Air Force 1 between 7.20pm and 8.05pm - with another no-fly zone from 7.30pm to 8.50pm in place between the airport and his Trump Turnberry hotel and golf course. But footage taken early this morning suggests his family and friends have already landed in Scotland. Onlookers caught a glimpse of the aircraft beside the terminal building - clearly visible from the small village of Monkton. One eagle-eyed punter said: "It looked like a big travel operation was already well underway. "It's not every day you see plane's carrying the US President and his family land on your doorstep." Trump will be here between this evening and next Tuesday and is expected to mix golf and business with key political meetings. He's expected to first visit his luxury Turnberry resort near Girvan, Ayrshire where it's thought he will spend the weekend. On Monday, Trump is expected to travel by air to his other Scots golf resort at Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. Restrictions suggest he will fly there via RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, where air traffic will be restricted between 4.20pm and 5.05pm. There will be a no-fly zone between the airbase and Menie between 4.30pm and 5.45pm on Monday. And the curbs indicate he will leave for Lossiemouth again to return to the US between 2.45pm and 4pm on Tuesday. he airspace around Menie Estate will also be shut off between 8am on Sunday and 3.30pm on Tuesday. The NATS document states: "The President of the United States (POTUS) will visit Scotland between the 25 July 2025 and 29 July 2025, POTUS will visit several locations throughout Scotland and as part of the security arrangements the Secretary of State for Transport has decided that it is necessary, on the grounds of public safety and security, to introduce Restriction of Flying Regulations under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 to restrict the operation of all types of aircraft between 24 July 2025 and 29 July 2025. "Pilots are strongly encouraged to employ the use of moving map technology and/or an air traffic service to mitigate the risk of inadvertent airspace infringements. "In relation to this document, the term 'aircraft' includes any small balloon, any kite, any unmanned aircraft and any parachute including a parascending parachute or paramotor." Trump is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his visit. Sources suggest this will happen on Monday. He will also meet with First Minister John Swinney during his time in Scotland.