Donald Trump's visit to the UK in the this week will put "unquestionable pressure" on the already stretched police forces, a police association has warned, amid massive demonstrations planned in London and other cities during the US President's stay.
Although the US president will bring his own security detail, UK police will be expected to provide additional cover around his engagements and the protests, including the "Stop Trump" march planned for July 13.
Trump will spend time in London, Windsor and Scotland during the two-day working visit.
Since thousands are expected to protest Trump's visit, police forces from across the country have been asked to send officers to assist, the BBC reported.
The UK Home Office said other forces can be "recompensed by the hosting force".
Forces assist one another outside their regions when dealing with major incidents and emergencies, under the so-called "mutual aid" agreement.
Trump's visit will see thousands of officers deployed from their home forces, said Simon Kempton, from the Police Federation of England and Wales.
"The fact cannot be ignored that while the officers on mutual aid are deployed elsewhere thousands more of their colleagues left behind in their home force will be expected to pick up the slack, leaving them even more stretched," he said.
"There was a time when we could do it all but now choices have to be made - we cannot do it all and this type of event puts a service which is already creaking at its knees under unquestionable pressure," Kempton said.
Trump will fly to the UK on Thursday with first lady Melania Trump, following a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in Brussels.
The couple will attend a black-tie dinner on Thursday at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, before spending the night at Winfield House in London.
On Friday, the president will travel to Chequers in Buckinghamshire for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Theresa May. In the afternoon, he will meet the Queen in Windsor and then fly to Scotland, where the couple plan to spend the weekend, the BBC said.
While thousands of people are expected to gather in central London to protest against Trump's controversial policies on issues like immigration and foreign policy, British media reports said.
Activists were delighted when London Mayor Sadiq Khan allowed protesters to fly a gigantic balloon known as "Trump baby" for two hours above Parliament Square Gardens on the morning of the protest.
Elsewhere, protests against the visit are set to take place across the country, Belfast to York, and also at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire where the president will be treated to a lavish dinner.
Marches are also planned for Scotland, where Trump owns golf courses.
The Treasury has confirmed it will fund policing costs of up to five million pounds in Scotland.
With officers sent in to help, local policing was being reduced to a "reactive service", Kempton said, with additional strain due to the World Cup and the Novichok poisonings in Amesbury.
"You have to ask what would happen if we're unable to resource incidents like these," Kempton added.
The National Police Chiefs' Council said discussions were ongoing about "how the resource requirements of this massive operation will be met" but a spokesman said: "We are confident that forces will continue to maintain local policing services.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
