'Trump's UK visit to put 'unquestionable pressure' on police'

Press Trust of India  |  London 

Donald Trump's visit to the UK in the this week will put "unquestionable pressure" on the already stretched police forces, a police association has warned, amid massive demonstrations planned in and other cities during the US President's stay.

Trump will spend time in London, and during the two-day working visit.

Since thousands are expected to protest Trump's visit, police forces from across the country have been asked to send officers to assist, the reported.

The said other forces can be "recompensed by the hosting force".

Forces assist one another outside their regions when dealing with major incidents and emergencies, under the so-called "mutual aid" agreement.

Trump's visit will see thousands of officers deployed from their home forces, said Simon Kempton, from the

"The fact cannot be ignored that while the officers on mutual aid are deployed elsewhere thousands more of their colleagues left behind in their home force will be expected to pick up the slack, leaving them even more stretched," he said.

"There was a time when we could do it all but now choices have to be made - we cannot do it all and this type of event puts a service which is already creaking at its knees under unquestionable pressure," Kempton said.

Trump will fly to the UK on Thursday with Melania Trump, following a (NATO) summit in

The couple will attend a black-tie dinner on Thursday at in Oxfordshire, before spending the night at Winfield House in

On Friday, the will travel to Chequers in Buckinghamshire for bilateral talks with In the afternoon, he will meet the in and then fly to Scotland, where the couple plan to spend the weekend, the said.

While thousands of people are expected to gather in central to protest against Trump's controversial policies on issues like immigration and foreign policy, British said.

Activists were delighted when London allowed protesters to fly a gigantic balloon known as "Trump baby" for two hours above Parliament Square Gardens on the morning of the protest.

Elsewhere, protests against the visit are set to take place across the country, to York, and also at in Oxfordshire where the will be treated to a lavish dinner.

Marches are also planned for Scotland, where Trump owns golf courses.

The Treasury has confirmed it will fund policing costs of up to five million pounds in

With officers sent in to help, local policing was being reduced to a "reactive service", Kempton said, with additional strain due to and the Novichok poisonings in Amesbury.

"You have to ask what would happen if we're unable to resource incidents like these," Kempton added.

The said discussions were ongoing about "how the resource requirements of this massive operation will be met" but a said: "We are confident that forces will continue to maintain local policing services.

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First Published: Mon, July 09 2018. 18:00 IST