Council Area Leader Welcomes Review of Armed Police Policy

14th August 2014

Caithness and Sutherland Area Leader Cllr Deirdre Mackay has welcomed the announcement of two reviews into the decision by Police Scotland to allow a number of its officers to carry handguns.
 
It was announced that both the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and the HM Inspectorate of Scotland (HMIS) will both hold reviews looking at different areas of the policy.  The HMICS will assess the current practices for the issue and the carrying of firearms by armed response vehicle crews.  It will aim to provide assurance that Police Scotland's approach is compliant with guidance, procedures and recognised best practice.  SPA has announced that its review will consider the public impact of Police Scotland's decision around firearms deployment.

Councillor Mackay, a long-time critic of having armed police on routine patrols, said:"Whilst I welcome the news that this policy is going to be reviewed,  I question why this has taken so long and indeed why it was not done before the policy was implemented.  Police Scotland do not seem to have thought this policy through."
 
"There is no need for regular armed police officers to be on our streets, especially in rural villages and towns. From conversations with members of the public in both Caithness and Sutherland, I know the majority feel the same.  I hope these reviews will take on board the strong public feeling and we can see the formation of a sensible policy."