Hundreds of police brought in to protect Donald Trump react with fury after they are crammed into gym with cold showers and stretcher beds

HUNDREDS of cops who were drafted in to protect Donald Trump during his UK visit have been crammed into a gym with no food and water.

Hampshire Police chairman John Apter was furious after seeing the pictures and has said the officers are being treated “worse than prisoners”.

He told The Sun Online that thousands of officers are working back-to-back 12-hour shifts with just a three-hour break.

One image from a school gym, believed to have been taken in Essex, shows around 300 small stretcher beds lined up next to each other.

Furious officers claim they are unable to charge their phones and have to use freezing cold showers.

Some of the officers were called up on Monday but the majority of the task force all from Operation Manifold arrived 24 hours ago.

They will remain in these conditions for the next three nights and some cops have said women have been forced to sleep on roll mats.

Mr Apter told The Sun Online: “Officers from all over the country have been drafted in to help with this, the largest police operation since the 2012 Olympics.

“But the pictures we are seeing are shocking. For a pre-planned event this is just simply unacceptable.

“What became very clear was the accommodation and the logistics in some areas were far from ideal and a number of complaints started coming in from officers.

“Police officers do not expect to be staying in the Hilton but they do expect the basics.

“Some of them are working 18 hour days and they expect to get their head down for a few hours without interruption and get food and water –but even that’s lacking in some cases.”

He added: “I look after the Hampshire officers, a number of them are staying in suitable accommodation but others are staying in accommodation which is far from ideal.

“We are speaking to bosses to try and sort this out immediately.

“In some cases, prisoners are better looked after and that is a shameful position to be in.

“I want to know who made that decision there has to some accountability. It’s not acceptable they are working their socks off.”

The officers who have been drafted in will be taking part in a variety of tasks when Trump lands in Stansted later this afternoon.

Mr Apter added: “Some will be dealing with firearms, there will be search officers, cordon officers and public officers whose main priority is to make the visit safe and go smoothly.

“You’re expecting officers to deal with quite technical police work and they’re working extremely long hours.

“I have spoken to an officer this morning who between shifts was given a three-hour break which is unlawful.

“How can you have officers working a 12-hour shift then a three-hour break and then another 12-hour shift? Officers will be making mistakes and will become unwell.”

According to the Mirror, an officer said that officers are feeling unwell because of the conditions.

He wrote online: “Cops can’t even charge their phones. There’s not even enough charging ports. It’s just chaos.

“We’re at 10pm passing beds through to where the women are sleeping. We should be asleep. Up at 3am

“The deafening sound of 50 out of 300 people snoring, the odd phone going off, constant creaking of these stretcher beds and then someone farts have to try and see the funny side.

“After one hours sleep, a freezing cold shower and having to get dressed in the dark with no light there are serious issues with health and safety arising in my accomodation.

“People are saying they feel unwell. Myself included.”

The US President is due to arrive on British soil today – specifically-designed armoured vehicles, rooftop snipers, undercover Secret Service agents and elite SAS soldiers are already at Prestwick Airport.

He will be met from Air Force One by his private armoured limousine, dubbed “The Beast”, which travels everywhere with him.

The president will land in the UK fresh from the Nato summit in Brussels, and will have a meet and greet at the US Embassy in London, escorted by a separate fleet of protection to that awaiting him in Scotland.

Tomorrow Trump will fulfil his dream of meeting the Queen at Windsor Castle, after taking a working lunch with Mrs May at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country house.

The 72-year-old president is expected to inspect the Guard of Honour with the Queen before watching the military march past.

A blimp depicting Trump as a screaming baby in a nappy is set to be flown over London when the president visits.

But the president isn’t bothered about the giant baby blimp, the US ambassador has said. Woody Johnson insisted that the huge balloon doesn’t show how most Brits see him.

A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesman said: “Some of the accommodation pictured today for officers supporting the major operation for the US Presidential visit is not acceptable and below the standard of other accommodation for this operation.

“Essex Police is working at speed to resolve the issues for the affected officers. Thank you to the officers who have raised this important issue.”