A second man has been arrested by police on suspicion of flying a drone over Windsor ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit this week.
The 37-year-old individual from Aylesbury has been detained for allegedly violating temporary air restrictions implemented today as part of the extensive police safety measures needed for the US President’s visit.
Thames Valley Police said the man flying a drone in the village of Datchet, not far from the Windsor Castle.
It comes hours after another 37-year-old man, from Brentford in west London, was arrested on suspicion of flying a drone over Windsor Great Park.
President Trump, accompanied by his wife, Melania, is expected to land in London later this evening. They will spend the following two days hosted by the King at Windsor Castle and at the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s rural retreat, Chequers.
This state visit marks President Trump’s second trip to the UK, necessitating considerable police resources and security protocols, even though there are no public events planned.
Despite this, Thames Valley Police have been supplemented by a substantial temporary reinforcement of personnel from police forces nationwide. Reports suggest that officers from outside Thames Valley will comprise two-thirds of the staff involved.
The operation leader mentioned that every foreseeable circumstance, including protests against the US President, has been accounted for in their plans.
According to Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Christian Bunt, there will be a clearly noticeable increase in police presence around Windsor and Chequers throughout the week.
He said President Trump’s visit already meant the ‘threat level’ was ‘very high’, but that the attack on Trump-supporter Charlie Kirk at a university campus in Utah had not meant security needed to be tightened.
A police car parks outside Windsor Castle, as part of a significant visible presence marking Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK
Officers stand as a security fence installed around the Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle, where President Trump and his wife, Melania, are due to arrive tomorrow
While significant protest is expected in Windsor and central London, not everybody is against the US President’s arrival
Measures include crowd barriers, specialist officers and temporary restrictions for aircraft and drones.
A number of protests have been planned – despite the fact the visit is taking place away from public view.
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: ‘We respect the public’s right to peaceful protest and are committed to facilitating lawful demonstrations.
‘Our priority is to ensure public safety while minimising disruption to the wider community.’
One of the largest protests is expected to be in central London tomorrow, roughly 25 miles away from Windsor Castle where the Trumps will visit the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II and later be treated to a state banquet.
The Stop Trump Coalition also said people would line the streets of Windsor this week.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, campaigner Zoe Gardner said: ‘There is an enormous line between a relationship and diplomacy with the United States, and letting this toddler come here and use our country as a theme park and honouring him with a red carpet and a banquet with the King.
‘There is miles between those two positions, and what we’re doing today is shameful and humiliating for the UK.’
Sarah Jones, the new policing minister, praised officers involved in the security operation when she appeared before the Police Superintendents’ Association conference today
Officers have been brought in from forces across the UK to help with the security operation
Thames Valley Police this afternoon confirmed what is believed to be the first arrest in relation to the visit.
A spokesman said the suspect, from Brentford, west London, was arrested at Windsor Great Park for allegedly flying a drone that breached the restricted area.
The force said: ‘This serves as a reminder that airspace restrictions are currently in place for the state visit of President of the United States of America Donald Trump, and any breaches will be dealt with robustly.’
It came as newly appointed policing minister Sarah Jones praised the legions of officers from across the country involved in the security operation.
Speaking at the Police Superintendents’ Association annual conference in Stratford today, she said: ‘Tomorrow we have the President of the United States coming to this country, and who will be there making sure he is safe and everything goes smoothly, using all the best expertise that we have, all the new technology that we have to make sure that goes as smoothly as possible.
‘Policing will always be at the heart of our national life.’
