from Sunday Herald, 30 October 2011
Police strategy at the Aberdeenshire golf resort being build by US property tycoon, Donald Trump, was targeted against protestors – but that was a mistake, according to an internal police report obtained by the Sunday Herald.
Grampian Police confessed to an “admin error” in recording that its aim was to “deter, detect, detain and report those responsible for unlawful protest” against the controversial development. It should have said “unlawful behaviour”.
A hand-written note in a senior police management file released under freedom of information legislation warned that this could lead to accusations that the police were biased in favour of Trump.
"Emphasis on ‘protest’ could be seen as an imbalance in terms of neutrality,” it said. “‘Behaviour’ is more appropriate and was original strategy.”
The revelation has resurrected claims that Grampian Police have acted as Trump’s private security force in protecting the billionaire’s £750 million golf course and hotel complex on the Menie Estate. Last year, two documentary filmmakers were arrested and imprisoned after interviewing a member of Trump’s staff on the estate, but then had charges dropped.