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Police move on firearms officers Police Scotland changes policy on armed officers
(about 1 hour later)
Police Scotland has clarified its policy on deploying firearms officers, after concerns over a policy allowing them to carry guns on routine patrol. Specialist armed police officers in Scotland will in future only be deployed to firearms incidents or where there is a threat to life.
Firearms officers attached to armed response vehicles will now only be deployed to firearms incidents or where there is a threat to life. The move came following concerns from politicians about officers carrying weapons while on routine patrol.
However, the policy allowing the deployment of officers with handguns and Taser stun guns will continue. The policy relates to firearms officers attached to armed response vehicles.
MSPs and councils have raised concern over the policy. However, the "national standing firearms authority" allowing the deployment of officers with handguns and Taser stun guns will continue.
That recommendation, put forward by Police Scotland's armed policing monitoring group, was approved by Chief Constable Sir Stephen House.
The national standing firearms authority, in place since April 2013, allows a limited number of trained armed response vehicle officers to deploy with side arms and Tasers across Scotland.
Councillors in the Borders and Highlands have voiced concern, as well as opposition MSPs.
Analysis: Reevel Alderson, BBC Scotland home affairs correspondent.
Many will see this as a U-turn.
Last year, Police Scotland rolled out a policy to allow firearms officers to carry handguns with them at all times while on duty rather than getting kitted up to deal with specific incidents.
It proved controversial, with photos emerging of police wearing guns in shopping centres and rural areas.
But today they've announced that officers attached to armed response vehicles will now only be used for specific incidents or if there is a threat to life.
And - as the BBC revealed yesterday - Police Scotland will review the types of holsters used to carry the handguns.
But despite criticism from local authorities and MSPs, police will continue the "standing order" which allows firearms officers to carry weapons routinely.
Police Scotland said the chief constable had issued his directions on how the officers are deployed after listening to the concerns of politicians and members of the public.
The national force has also set up a working group, to report in January 2015, which will review how handguns and Tasers are carried, as well as how armed response vehicle officers are used when not deployed to firearm incidents.
Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: "Protecting the public and ensuring that all communities have the same access to specialist policing support, no matter where or when they 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."
Policy reviews
Mr Livingstone added: "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."
Police Scotland said 275 officers - less than 2% of the force - were currently attached to armed response vehicles, which it said was proportionate and necessary to keep people safe.
The force also said it would carefully consider the findings of firearms policy reviews currently being carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.