Donald Trump in the UK: Police sleeping conditions 'a disgrace'
Donald Trump in the UK: Police chief apologises for officers' sleeping conditions
(about 5 hours later)
Hundreds of police officers assigned to help with Donald Trump's visit to the UK are having to sleep in conditions described as "an absolute disgrace".
A police chief has apologised after it was revealed some officers deployed to work on the US president's visit had to sleep in conditions described as "an absolute disgrace".
Pictures posted on social media show rows of camp beds in a gymnasium which will be used for officers to rest on after 12 hour shifts.
Pictures posted on social media showed rows of camp beds in a gymnasium, to be used for officers after 12-hour shifts policing Donald Trump's visit.
The Police Federation said prisoners in cells would be sleeping in better conditions than its officers.
Essex Police's Assistant Chief Constable Pippa Mills has said sorry.
The situation was "not acceptable", the body coordinating the operation said.
Alternative accommodation has been found for the officers, she added.
Labour MP Louise Haigh raised the issue in the House of Commons, said 100 female officers had just four toilets between them and 300 male officers had just five toilets.
The Police Federation had said prisoners in cells would be sleeping in better conditions than its officers when the images came to light, describing the situation as "not acceptable".
She added: "The time for warm words is over. The government must now provide the police with the support they desperately need."
Ms Mills apologised to the officers who have come from across the UK to join the operation, estimated to cost up to £10m.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said the conditions some of his officers had found themselves in were an "absolute disgrace".
"The conditions which I have been made aware of are not acceptable," she said. "Working with our military partners we have found alternative accommodation.
"No officer should be made to sleep on a camp bed, inches from the floor, in a sports hall with scores of colleagues only metres apart after a 12-hour shift", he said.
Around 300 officers have been brought in from forces across the country to help police Donald Trump's visit, costing up to £10m.
The US president arrived on Thursday afternoon and will be in the UK for three days before travelling to Finland for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Trump will attend a dinner at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, bilateral talks with the prime minister at Chequers in Buckinghamshire, a meeting with the Queen at Windsor Castle, and a private trip to Scotland.
Thousands are expected to protest against the working visit across the country, with large-scale marches planned for London and Glasgow.
Simon Kempton, the Police Federation's deputy treasurer in England and Wales, said: "These officers have been asked to leave their families to travel to another part of the country to help protect the public and the president and all they expect in return is to be treated with some dignity and respect.
"What's clear is that anyone overnight who has been arrested by the police would be put in accommodation far superior to what the officers are staying in."
John Apter, chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation, added: "There's so much pressure on officers at the moment.
"Many are having rest days cancelled, working extended hours and this on top of it; do the bosses really care?
"It hits morale. It's tough at the moment, really tough, and they don't deserve this - it's not right and it's not acceptable."
A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs' Council - the organisation co-ordinating the operation - thanked the officers who "raised this important issue".
He said: "Some of the accommodation pictured today for officers supporting the major operation for the US presidential visit is not acceptable and below the standard of other accommodation for this operation.
"Essex Police is working at speed to resolve the issues for the affected officers."
Assistant Chief Constable Pippa Mills apologised to the officers involved.
In a statement posted on Twitter, she said: "The conditions which I have been made aware of are not acceptable.
"Working with our military partners we have found alternative accommodation.
"This will address the concerns highlighted."
"This will address the concerns highlighted."
Policing minister Nick Hurd said it was right that the force was addressing the issues.
Chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation John Apter said he was pleased to hear the accommodation had changed:
The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, had voiced concerns about the conditions earlier.
Simon Kempton, the organisation's deputy treasurer in England and Wales, said earlier: "These officers have been asked to leave their families to travel to another part of the country to help protect the public and the president and all they expect in return is to be treated with some dignity and respect."
Labour MP Louise Haigh had raised the issue in the House of Commons, said 100 female officers had just four toilets between them and 300 male officers had just five toilets.
The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the venue in question was thought to be Colchester Garrison, where about 300 officers had been based.
Those who had "leaked" photographs were said to be being "sought out" and told that "firm action" would be taken.
Thousands of officers are on duty for President Trump's visit, which has prompted one of the biggest-ever police operations seen in the UK.
Mr Trump arrived on Thursday afternoon and will be in the UK for three days.
A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs' Council - the organisation co-ordinating the operation - thanked the officers who "raised this important issue".
He said: "Some of the accommodation pictured today for officers supporting the major operation for the US presidential visit is not acceptable and below the standard of other accommodation for this operation."
