Millions pledged for Trump visit but no extra funds to police fracking in Lancashire

Lancashire's crime commissioner has blasted the government for pledging an extra £5m to police President Trump's golfing trip to Scotland while offering '˜minimum' support to the county's overstretched officers.
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania stand with Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip MayUS President Donald Trump and his wife Melania stand with Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip May
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania stand with Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip May

Clive Grunshaw said the government’s priorities are ‘all wrong’ after it was announced millions of pounds will be made available to Police Scotland to facilitate the President’s controversial trip - at a time when Lancashire has been denied extra funds to police anti-fracking protests in the county.

Mr Grunshaw has written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to ask why extra cash isn’t being pledged to support Lancashire Constabulary.

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Despite the costs of policing the protests at the fracking site on Preston New Road, reaching £7m the Government has told police in Lancashire they won’t make more than £1.4m available to help cover the operation.

Clive Grunshaw said the governments priorities are all wrong after it was announced millions of pounds will be made available to Police Scotland to facilitate the Presidents controversial trip - at a time when Lancashire has been denied extra funds to police anti-fracking protests in the county.Clive Grunshaw said the governments priorities are all wrong after it was announced millions of pounds will be made available to Police Scotland to facilitate the Presidents controversial trip - at a time when Lancashire has been denied extra funds to police anti-fracking protests in the county.
Clive Grunshaw said the governments priorities are all wrong after it was announced millions of pounds will be made available to Police Scotland to facilitate the Presidents controversial trip - at a time when Lancashire has been denied extra funds to police anti-fracking protests in the county.

Mr Grunshaw said: “The Government’s priorities are all wrong, while it’s right they support Police Scotland during President Trump’s visit, it’s frustrating that they won’t ease the pressure on Lancashire Police.

“These are both national decisions impacting on overstretched police forces.

“The decision to allow fracking in Lancashire was one made in Westminster but it’s been local residents who have been left to foot the bill. For months I’ve been calling on the Government to support our police but they have only offered the minimum possible assistance.

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“The people of Lancashire will rightly be left wondering why the rules can be bent for President Trump to visit his golf resort, but not for our police force.”

President Trump and his wife Melania were expected to attend a black-tie dinner with Theresa May, last night, before meeting the Queen in Windsor today.

The US president is then expected travel to Scotland, where he is expected to increase the amount of time spent playing golf during his presidency at Turnberry, the South Ayrshire golf resort he bought in 2014.