John Swinney 'confident' in Police Scotland ahead of Donald Trump visit

John Swinney has said he’s “confident” that Police Scotland has the resources and planning to deal with Donald Trump’s visit and ensure it’s “safe and secure.”

The US President will visit Scotland for the first time during his second term this week.

It’s the biggest policing operation that Police Scotland has faced since Queen Elizabeth’s death.

The First Minister told STV News that the operation will undoubtedly “put demands” on Police Scotland, but that he is “confident” that the operation will be “managed effectively”.

“This will be an exceptional event that will have significant demands on policing,” Swinney said.

“I’m confident Police Scotland has the resources and planning in place to deal with the situation and make sure events around and about President Trump are safe and secure, which is our duty to make sure is the case, but also that members of public who wish to make their views clear or who wish to protest are able to do so peacefully and within the law.”

The First Minister’s comments come less than 24 hours after Police Scotland officers said they were considering taking legal action over the plans surrounding 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, sought legal advice.

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

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.

Police Scotland has submitted a request for “mutual aid” to the force in Northern Ireland ahead of Trump’s visit later this week.

However, Swinney said this type of request is “routine” for significant events, and that demands will be “managed effectively” by Police Scotland as they undertake all of their operations.

“Police Scotland have got a complex job to do to plan for a significant operation of this type,” the First Minister said.

“And I’m confident that is being done effectively and systematically by Police Scotland.”

Swinney also urged protesters to express their views “peacefully” and “within the law”.

“Police Scotland will make sure people’s democratic right to protest is able to be exercised within the law as well as making sure that all necessary security that has to be in place for this operation is in place,” he said.

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 in Aberdeen, while plans are being put in place for him to meet Swinney, according to the Scottish Government.