CHIPPING NORTON, UK – US Vice President JD Vance’s vacation in the serene Cotswolds has not been the relaxing getaway it was supposed to be. Local residents are upset by his presence. The arrival of Vance and his family in the villages around Chipping Norton and Charlbury has caused a lot of trouble in the community because of the large police presence and several security measures.
Claims of intrusive security and daily life being disrupted
People in the vicinity have raised a number of complaints about the security detail, saying that they have made daily living harder. those say that Vance’s big security convoy took up parking places at Daylesford Organic, a favorite local location, that were meant for those with mobility challenges. The area was apparently blocked off on the vice president’s first full day in England, which made things even worse for the public.
People have said that Vance’s Secret Service agents knocked on homes in the small town of Dean, where the family is staying. This is one of the more stunning things that has been said. A resident told the Observer that police and the Secret Service asked everyone who lived in the area for their names, personal information, and social media handles. The resident said that a number of people didn’t follow the requests. “We asked them if they were protecting us or Vance,” the resident stated. “At least they were honest and said it was for him and that the American security people would get it all.”
Police said the claims are false and that they are taking security measures.
The Thames Valley Police have refuted the charges of intrusive interrogation in reaction to the public’s mounting discontent. A spokeswoman said that a “restricted access area” was set up in a small part of Dean to keep everyone safe.
The spokeswoman told the Daily Mail, “We talked to the people who were affected to make sure we can help people move around in the restricted access area.” They made it clear that “residents were not required to respond to any inquiries and were not questioned regarding social media.” The British police’s statement is meant to give a different version of events than what the locals say. However, the difference in stories shows how tense the vice president’s visit is.