This year, Thames Valley Police has policed a number of internationally significant events, including the wedding of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May and the visit from The President of the United States in July. Our effective policing response has ensured the safety and security of all involved.
Thames Valley Police can confirm that the policing operation surrounding the wedding of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Windsor which was attended by 110,000 well-wishers, has cost the force £3,428,650*. Thames Valley Police can also confirm that the policing operation surrounding The President of the United States’ visit to Blenheim Palace, Chequers, and Windsor Castle cost £6,000,610*.
These figures cover the cost of officers and staff deployed (from the Thames Valley and nationally via Mutual Aid), security measures (ranging from technical measures to physical measures), accommodation, catering and transport costs.
In circumstances such as these, Police and Crime Commissioners can apply to the Home Office for special grant funding to meet additional costs that would be incurred from policing unexpected and exceptional events within their areas in order to minimise the impact on local policing.
In November, Anthony Stansfeld, the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley, submitted an application for Special Grant Funding to the Home Office for the full cost of both these operations.
The application was considered by the Home Office who have confirmed we have been successful in our application and will award us 100 per cent of our direct costs for both these operations.
This covers all the additional costs incurred by Thames Valley Police and does not cover internal costs such as the deployment of our own resources.
The total recovered for the policing operation surrounding the wedding of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is £2,364,690. The total recovered for the policing operation surrounding the visit from The President of the United States is £5,476,205.
Anthony Stansfeld, Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley said:
“This year has been an extremely busy one for Thames Valley Police.
“Whilst I am proud that the forces effective policing response ensured the safety and security of all involved in these events, it was extremely important for me to minimise the impact on local policing.
“I am therefore delighted that the Home Office has provided us with special grant funding to cover the additional costs incurred by Thames Valley Police in policing both of these events.”
Notes:
*Whilst every effort has been made to ensure these costs are accurate we reserve the right for these to increase due to late billing or if unforeseen costs arise.
