Hampshire Cops’ Holidays Cancelled to Guard Trump’s UK Visit
Hampshire Police face backlash after being forced to scrap annual leave and rest days to cover Operation Manifold – the security detail for Donald Trump’s three-day UK visit starting July 12.
Mass Police Deployment Sparks Fury
The cash-strapped force is sending a wave of frontline officers to London, leaving Hampshire and the Isle of Wight desperately short. The Constabulary has already lost around 2,000 officers over the last eight years amid a rising crimewave, making today’s cuts even more painful.
Remaining officers must now pull double shifts and work overtime to plug the gaps, with less than 48 hours’ notice for canceled leave. Isle of Wight cops face the hassle of ferry trips to the mainland, only to backfill duties left behind by their London-bound colleagues.
Trump Visits Amid Local Police Crisis
Despite local opposition calling Trump an “unwelcome visitor,” officers must guard him during stops at Chequers to meet Theresa May, and Windsor Castle for a royal audience with the Queen. The Home Office will fund extra forces borrowed from elsewhere to assist London’s Met Police, as Britain braces for a “Stop Trump” protest on July 13, set to flood Oxford Circus, Regent Street, and Trafalgar Square.
Official Comment: Police Chiefs and Fed Warn of Strain
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) admitted large-scale operations require officers to be lent between forces, making canceled leave unavoidable.
John Apter, chair of the Hampshire Police Federation, revealed the brutal toll on officers: “These are officers who’ve had their rest days cancelled, working extended hours and double shifts. They’re being pulled in from all over. This isn’t about extra police on the beat – it’s stretching an already thin blue line even thinner.”
The public in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are left wondering if their safety takes a backseat during this costly political visit.
