Yahoo News Policing Donald Trump during his UK visit ‘will cost the taxpayer £5 million’
The bill for policing Donald Trump during his visit to the UK next month will be £5 million, it has been reported.
The US president’s three-day British visit, scheduled to begin on July 12, will require between 5,000 and 10,000 police officers working overtime.
Mr Trump’s visit is expected to result in mass protests in the UK, meaning more police on the streets are necessary.
The Times reported that counterterrorism and specialist protection officers will be on hand to guarantee the US president’s safety.
In addition, riot vans, search dogs, helicopters, mounted police, protest removal units, public order units and evidence-gathering units will all be deployed.
Support will be given to those officers on the ground by civilian staff in control rooms, while police community support officers will deal with road closures.
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Mr Trump is expected to meet prime minister Theresa May at Chequers before a trip to Windsor Castle to meet the Queen.
He will fly into Britain on Air Force One and bring his own US secret service security detail.
He is thought to be planning a trip to Turnberry golf course in Scotland, which bears the Trump branding.
There have already been several anti-Trump protests in London since he set foot in the Oval Office at the beginning of last year, and more demonstrations are expected around his visit.
Sergeant Simon Kempton, from the Police Federation, told The Times: “It’s not going to be cheap.
“I would say it will be an expensive few days. It’s the human cost I’m worried about, to the teams losing their rest days.”
He said the Trump visit will be “hugely disruptive” to general policing.
A police spokesman added: “We are anticipating people to gather in the capital to demonstrate both for and against the president.
“The requirements of this complex operation need to be balanced with the right of individuals to freedom of speech.”
