By 1919 staff
Chief Constable Jo Farrell has praised the thousands of officers and staff who gave up time with family and friends to police the largescale operation surrounding President Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland.
A total of 6,144 Police Scotland officers and 154 police staff – as well as a further 1,197 mutual aid officers from England, Wales and Northern Ireland – took part in Operation Roll 2 at the end of July.
Farrell deemed the operation, which was one of the biggest operations in Police Scotland’s history, a huge success – even if some officers reported it to be “a bit boring” due to its relatively uneventful nature.
She said: “It’s been a huge effort by the organisation working with our partners and we know that the world’s media have had their eyes on us.
“At very, very short notice, we were able to step up this operation, use our expertise and learning from other big operations in the past and adapt to the challenges that this one presented, both in terms of the principles coming to Scotland to meet the US President and people exercising their democratic right to make their voices heard.
“During the op, all of the executive team were out on the ground to speak to people first-hand to hear of the excellent work, but also any of the issues we can improve on.
“A few people told me that it was a bit boring – but boring’s good. It means nothing has escalated and that’s the success of the operation.”
Prior to President Trump’s arrival, the Scottish Police Federation raised concerns over health and safety standards for officers, and warned of potential legal action, claiming workforce agreements had been breached.
“A few people told me that it was a bit boring – but boring’s good. It means nothing has escalated and that’s the success of the operation”
Chief Constable Jo Farrell
Police Scotland had to pay out £500,000 to compensate officers who were unable to take time off due to the presidential visit.
Farrell acknowledged that officers and staff had “given up time with family and friends to ensure we’ve been able to resource this huge operation”. She also stressed the importance of ensuring “business-as-usual” policing during major operations.
While Operation Roll 2 was underway, Scottish officers arrested a 67-year-old man in connection with the death of Shona Stevens from Irvine in 1994, recovered £3.5 million of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in Dumfries, and seized illegal drugs in Aberdeen, Alloa, East Kilbride and Glasgow, with six people arrested.
“As a national service my expectation – and the expectation of the public – is even with this huge operation, business-as-usual policing continues in communities,” said Farrell.
“Some key results during this time were the arrest and charge from a murder in 1994 as well as proactive drug seizures in Aberdeen and Alloa.
“For those that I didn’t meet personally on the ground during the operation, thank you for your commitment, your professionalism, your expertise and your patience with us at times.
“It continues to demonstrate that Police Scotland is an organisation that can step up to meet these demands, and I know others across the UK and internationally look at the organisation and know that it has a really strong reputation for delivering these types of operations.
“Colleagues come and learn from us – learn from you – in terms of our approach, your knowledge and skill. Everybody should be hugely proud to be part of this organisation and our reputation continues to be built and strengthened on the back of operations like this.
“Thank you to everybody who was involved.”