Threat levels justify standing authority for police firearms, HMICS finds
National intelligence and threat levels justify the routine carrying of firearms by certain police officers – but there needs to be better communication with the public to retain their confidence, according to HM Inspectorate of Constabluary in Scotland.
These are the main conclusions of the review by HMICS of Police Scotland’s standing firearms authority for police armed response vehicles, carried out following the controversy over the summer about the incidence of firearms by routine police patrols.
"Police Scotland has fully complied with all relevant United Kingdom armed policing guidance", the report finds. "The operational need for the standing authority as approved by the Chief Constable is justified by the composite assessment of national threat, risk and intelligence."
It continues: "Although the decision to grant a standing authority is an operational decision for the Chief
Constable, he remains accountable for that decision to the Scottish Police Authority." It further finds that overt carriage of the handgun and Taser is the best and safest method of carriage for officers crewing an armed response vehicle.
The report states that following the creation of the national police force, there has been "more equitable access" to an armed policing response, and that the number of trained firearms officers has actually reduced overall.
However, it also concludes that the impact of the policy change on public perception was not fully considered by Police Scotland, nor has there been a full and informed debate around the deployment of firearms officers to incidents and duties that do not require a firearms response.
It goes on to consider how the better communication of major policy changes by both the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland could enhance the relationships between the police service and its communities.
HM Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland Derek Penman said: “The aim of our review was to assess the current practices by Police Scotland in relation to both the standing authority and method of carriage of firearms in terms of the force’s compliance with the relevant guidance, procedures and recognised best practice.
“HMICS considered whether the standing authority was justified, what the rationale was for the overt carriage of the hand gun and Taser, what external consultation had taken place and what criteria exist for the deployment of the firearms officers. These points have been addressed in the report.”
Mr Penman continued: “We have made a number of recommendations for improvement with the aim of strengthening public confidence in Scottish policing through better communication, consultation and scrutiny at all levels – with the Scottish Police Authority, local authorities, general public and within policing.
“There needs to be a clear understanding of, and local discussions about, how these firearms officers can be used to support local policing in their communities at times when they are not responding to firearms incidents."
The 58-page report also recommends the Scottish Police Authority should engage with Police Scotland and other bodies to consider the concept of "operational responsibility" and develop a shared understanding over respective roles and responsibilities.
Its conclusions will be considered on Thursday this week by the Scottish Police Authority, as part of its own review of the firearms issue, which is due to conclude in December. HMICS said it would follow up progress against its recommendations.