US President’s visit ‘a stark illustration of how stretched policing has become’

The request, made through the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC), will see officers sent from across the UK to support security arrangements around the President’s visit, including his attendance at the opening of a new golf course in Aberdeenshire.

At a time when officers across England and Wales are already stretched to their limits—with rest days cancelled and working weeks exceeding 85 hours—the scale of the mobilisation has raised fresh concerns about priorities, resources, and the demands being placed on frontline policing.

Tiff Lynch, national chair of the PFEW, said: “Let’s be clear, this is a private visit by a head of state to play golf. And we are pulling 1,500 officers – roughly a third of the size of an average police force in England and Wales – away from their normal duties to support it.

“That should stop anyone in their tracks. These are officers who would otherwise be responding to emergencies, safeguarding the vulnerable, and reassuring communities. Instead, they’re being asked to give up rest days and work excessive hours to police a leisure visit.

“Our members will always act with professionalism and pride. But it’s hard not to ask the obvious question: what message does this send about where policing priorities lie?”

The Federation also highlighted ongoing concerns about the disparity in pay and allowances between officers in England and Wales and those in Scotland – who will be working alongside them on the same operation but under more generous welfare frameworks.

Ms Lynch added: “It’s demoralising to see officers doing the same job in the same place under different terms. This two-tier system is deeply unfair, and moments like this expose just how absurd that divide has become.”

The PFEW says the deployment comes at a time when the service is facing record attrition, rising public demand, and dwindling morale. With a government pay award expected in the coming days, the Federation says this mobilisation is a timely reminder of how heavily policing depends on goodwill.

“This isn’t a complaint about doing the job,” Ms Lynch said. “It’s a call for honesty about the realities officers are living with – unrelenting pressure, cancelled leave, extended shifts and now being sent hundreds of miles away for the security of a ceremonial PR stop.

“Pride in the job is vital – but it cannot be the only thing holding the service together. If the Government values policing, it needs to show it – with investment, fairness and proper protection for the people doing the job.”

The PFEW confirmed it will continue to work with local and national representatives to ensure officers deployed on the operation receive the support and welfare protections they deserve.