Police £900k Trump state visit costs “will not be reimbursed”

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The police force responsible for security during US President Donald Trump’s state visit to Windsor has been informed that it will not receive reimbursement exceeding £900,000 for the expenses related to policing the event. This decision was confirmed by the Home Office, which stated that it would not cover the full cost of officer time during the visit.

Matthew Barber, the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley, expressed his disappointment with the government’s position. While the government has agreed to repay the local council for costs incurred during the visit, the police force has faced a different financial outcome. Barber has been pursuing full reimbursement for several months but claims the force was “short changed” by more than £900,000.

Thames Valley Police, which managed the policing for the event, deployed officers from throughout the region to secure the visit. Barber emphasized the unfairness of local taxpayers bearing these policing costs, particularly since officers were diverted from their typical duties to manage the state visit. He also highlighted that with Buckingham Palace undergoing refurbishment, state visits to Windsor are expected to increase, potentially raising similar cost issues in the future. He promised to continue lobbying the central government on this matter.

In response, the Home Office confirmed that Thames Valley Police will be compensated for additional costs linked to state visits through the established major event funding procedures. However, the statement did not mention reimbursement for the full cost of officer hours. The Home Office emphasized that existing arrangements aim to ensure such visits are conducted securely while maintaining regular policing across communities. Nonetheless, this partial reimbursement stands in contrast to the government’s decision to cover the council’s expenses related to the visit

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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