Officers considering legal action against Police Scotland over Trump visit plans

At a glance

The Scottish Police Federation is seeking legal advice after a discussion regarding President Trump’s visit
The organisation believes the operation breaches legally binding workplace arrangements and the Presidential visit will have a significant impact on officers
General Secretary David Kennedy believes officers will be “under so much pressure”
Police Scotland has submitted a request to the Norther Irish force for more officers
The visit is Trump’s first after he was elected for a second term
Trump will be visiting both of his golf courses in Scotland

Police Scotland officers are considering taking legal action over the plans surrounding US President Donald 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, is seeking legal advice, STV News understands.

The Scottish Police Federation believes the operation breaches legally binding workplace arrangements and the Presidential visit will have a significant impact on officers.

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 while in Aberdeen, while plans are being put in place for the President to meet First Minister John Swinney, according to the Scottish Government.

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.

“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 has submitted a request for “mutual aid” to the force in Northern Ireland ahead of Trump’s first visit since he was elected for a second term.

A request for mutual aid a formal agreement between different police forces to provide assistance to each other, especially during major incidents or when one force’s resources are stretched.

The PSNI is considering the request for more officers against their “own demand”.

A spokesperson from the Northern Irish force 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.”

The US President was initially due to meet King Charles in Scotland this summer, however, this was cancelled due to “diary reasons.”

At the time, co-leader of the Scottish Greens Patrick Harvie called on the First Minister to “stand up” to the US president, accusing the Republican of being a “misogynistic, racist, climate-change denier”.

The unprecedented second state visit is now taking place in September.

Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.