By BRIAN MELLEY and KWIYEON HA, Associated Press
Scotland’s Turnberry (AP) The luminous yellow vest worn by Scottish police was one of the most common clothes seen on U.S. President Donald Trump’s golf course on Friday before his arrival, despite the fact that it may not be conventional golf gear.
As thousands of cops guarded the course ahead of protests scheduled during the president’s visit to two of his Scottish golf courses, the standard issue uniform, which is very different from the traditional Turnberry tartan, was clearly apparent on the dunes, the beaches, and the grass.
Trump was anticipated to arrive Friday night to a reception that was both respectful and mocking.
Due to planned protests over the weekend, his presence necessitates a significant police operation that will cost Scottish taxpayers millions of pounds. Some residents are unhappy about the expense, and the union that represents cops is worried that they will be taken away from their regular responsibilities in addition to being overworked.
Why doesn’t he cover the cost himself? Isn’t he coming to play golf? Merle Fertuson, a lone demonstrator in Edinburgh, remarked as he held a hand-drawn cardboard sign with a tuxedo-wearing, stupidly smiling Trump image. It has absolutely nothing to do with public funds, either in the United States or the United Kingdom.
According to Freedom of Information numbers, the cost of policing Trump’s 2018 four-day visit to the United Kingdom was over 14 million pounds ($19 million). His two-day golf excursion to Turnberry, the ancient course and hotel in southwest Scotland that he purchased in 2014, cost more than three million pounds ($4 million).
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Police Scotland only stated that the expenses will be high and would not disclose the number of officers being deployed for operational reasons.
According to Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond, the visit will necessitate a major police operation including local, national, and specialized resources from throughout Police Scotland, assisted by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutual aid agreements.
According to Scottish First Minister John Swinney, the visit won’t have a negative impact on law enforcement.
According to David Kennedy, general secretary of the officers’ union, the Scottish Police Federation, it is absurd to claim that it won’t affect it.
Kennedy stated that he anticipates roughly 5,000 cops participating in the operation.
According to him, police are now working 12-hour shifts as a result of a force reduction in previous years. During Trump’s visit, understaffed communities will be left with even fewer officers.
The United States president should be able to visit Scotland, according to our wishes. Kennedy stated that this is not about that. The police force’s current situation and the numbers we have make things very difficult.
Protests are scheduled for Saturday in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dumfries by the Stop Trump Scotland group. The group urged individuals to express to Trump our true feelings about him in Scotland.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is scheduled to meet with Trump during the visit, need to extend a far warmer welcome to him. Swinney, the former Trump critic and left-leaning leader of the Scottish government, is also scheduled to meet with the president.
From London, Melley reported. From Edinburgh, Will Weissert made a contribution.
