Police to debate carrying guns after terror attack
A call for calm has been issued as Scotland’s rank-and-file police officers today debate whether more should carry firearms in the wake of the Westminster terrorist attack.
The issue proved controversial three years ago after officers were photographed carrying semi-automatic pistols to attend a disturbance in Inverness High Street.
Police Scotland later announced armed officers would only be deployed to firearms incidents, or where there was a danger to life, although four policemen, openly wearing sidearms, were subsequently spotted at Dingwall’s Tesco store.
Today’s emergency motion at the Scottish Police Federation’s annual conference will discuss whether officers have sufficient personal protective equipment, including firearms, in the event of a terrorist incident.
Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie, a former policeman, urged caution and calm reflection.
"While it is appropriate to assess the risks on an ongoing basis, at this time, on all the information to hand, there is nothing to suggest to me we need to alter the present situation which is evidence-based," Mr Finnie said. "Most of all, we should avoid a knee-jerk reaction."
Labour MSP David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) said he would await the conference with interest.
"The previous announcement that firearms officers would no longer be deployed to routine incidents was welcomed by the majority of constituents and councillors in the Highlands and Islands," Mr Stewart said. "There was a vast body of opinion against it.
"It remains to be seen though, in the light of the murder of PC Keith Palmer, whether there does need to be a review of crucial national infrastructures and that will depend on the risk level and threat level as advised by the police and intelligence agencies."
The motion being put forward to the conference will also debate cuts to the police budget.
It states: "In light of the recent brutal and savage murder of PC Keith Palmer in a terrorist attack, that conference discusses the policing responses and readiness of the police service in Scotland to deal with the terror threat.
"Specifically, that conference discusses whether the fight against terrorism risks being undermined by drastic cuts to the policing budget, the erosion of community-based policing, and whether officers have sufficient personal protective equipment (including firearms) to be able to protect themselves in the event of a terrorist incident."
