Police back down on routine carrying of firearms

Police Scotland will only deploy armed officers in response to serious incidents in future, the national force announced yesterday.

Responding to publlic criticism over a "standing authority" for a limited number of officers to be allowed to carry firearms on routine patrol, Chief Constable Sir Stephen House has approved the recommendation of a monitoring group that the standing authority should continue, but has directed that firearms officers attached to armed response vehicles will now only be deployed to firearms incidents or where there is a threat to life.

The policy is also currently subject to a twin-track review by the Scottish Police Authority and HM Inspectors of Constabulary in Scotland, which is due to conclude by the end of the year.

Police Scotland said that the chief constable’s decision took into consideration the concerns voiced by politicians and some members of the public. The force has established a further working group to review the types of carriage for both sidearms and Tasers and the deployment of armed response vehicle officers when not deployed to firearm incidents. This group will submit a preliminary report in January 2015.

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, crime and operational support, said: “Protecting the public and ensuring that all communities have the same access to specialist policing support, no matter where or when the need it is at the heart of this decision. We have balanced our overriding duty to keep people safe with consideration of the views expressed about the perception of armed officers supporting local policing activities.

“Having a small number of armed police officers available means we can retain our operational flexibility and ensure that more than 98% of our officers remain unarmed but we remain best placed to support the public when the need arises. The public would expect nothing less."

Pointing out that serious incidents could occur in rural as well as urban areas, he continued: “The chief constable recognised the concerns expressed about the deployment of armed officers. As an organisation we acknowledge the local feeling from politicians and some members of the public, as evidenced by the feedback from several local authorities. We have listened to those concerns and this has resulted in the chief constable’s announcement today."

Politicians welcomed the announcement while continuing to question the failure by the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Government to intervene earlier.