Police told £900k Trump costs will not be paid

A police force has been told it will not be reimbursed more than £900,000 spent policing US president Donald Trump's state visit to Windsor.

Thames Valley's police and crime commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber said the Home Office had confirmed it would not reimburse the cost of officer time.

Barber said he was "disappointed" at the government's stance. The dispute comes as the government agreed to repay costs incurred by the local council for the same visit.

The Home Office said the force would receive "reimbursement for their additional costs".

The costs relate to security for the US president's visit to Windsor Castle in September.

Thames Valley Police was responsible for policing the event and deployed officers from across the region.

Barber, who has been seeking reimbursement for several months, said the force had been "short changed" by more than £900,000.

"I was informed by the Home Secretary last week that Thames Valley Police will not be reimbursed the full costs of policing President Trump's state visit at Windsor Castle.

He said he would "continue to push" central government on the issue.

"We know that state visits at Windsor are likely to continue to increase whilst Buckingham Palace undergoes refurbishment and these policing costs, with officers being taken away from their normal duties to police state visits of national significance, should not have to be picked up by local taxpayers," he added.

The government has agreed to reimburse the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead about £350,000 for costs linked to hosting recent state visits.

Barber said the differing approach was "in contradiction" to the decision on policing costs.

The force will still receive funding for some additional expenses under national arrangements.

In a statement, the Home Office said: "We and the police have long standing arrangements in place to ensure state visits are run safely and securely, while regular policing continues across communities.

"Thames Valley Police will receive reimbursement for their additional costs linked to state visits, and these will be recovered through standard major event procedures."

It did not address the cost of officer time.

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