Grampian Police defends impartiality in Donald Trump development protests GRAMPIAN Police has defended its impartiality in the ongoing protests over Donald Trump's development at Menie Estate. Grampian Police criticised over the way they have policed matters connected to the Donald Trump development at the Menie Estate Force apologises for conduct of officers in July 2010 arrest but rejects accusations that it wasn't impartial in ongoing protests You've Been Trumped producer Anthony Baxter "appalled" at force's attempts to justify actions In a letter to You've Been Trumped producer Anthony Baxter, the Chief Superintendent at the force's Professional Standards Department, maintained that the force had not been biased in favour of either side of the dispute. Ewan M Stewart said: "With regards to the general allegation which suggests that Grampian Police are not impartial in the manner in which they have policed issues relating to the development at Menie Estate. I can assure you that Grampian Police have responded to all calls, protests or incidents at the estate in an impartial and transparent manner. At the very outset, the potential controversy regarding the policing of incidents at Menie Estate and other similar developments was recognised and a generic local strategy was developed which determined Grampian Police's priorities as being to maximise safety, minimise disruption, facilitate lawful protest, and deter, detect, detain and report those responsible for unlawful behaviour. Mr Baxter's initial complaint came about after he and a colleague, Richard Phinney, were detained in July 2010 by the force after Donald Trump accused them of trespassing on the estate. Although Grampian Police reiterated their apology of Decem,ber 2011 for the conduct of the officers involved, "Appalled" at attempts to justify actions Mr Baxter spoke of being "appalled" at the force's attempts to "justify their actions." He said: "The police saying that their officers acted rationally and in a confrontational way is certainly true but really what we are dealing with here is something that should never have happened. We were doing an interview on the private property of local resident, Susan Monroe. We were essentially arrested and charged with a criminal offence for doing an interview. Chief Superintendent Stewart admitted that the officers concerned "could have interacted more effectively" with the film maker, adding: "There were opportunities for the officers to have communicated more effectively in order to explain their objectives." Mr Baxter's film takes a critical look at the American businessman's golf development in Aberdeenshire, and was released last year.