Top cop stands firm on arming of Highland police
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SCOTLAND’S Chief Constable has written to Highland Council’s deputy leader over his decision to arm police officers in the Highlands.
Sir Stephen House told David Alston, who is a Black Isle ward councillor, he “stands fully behind” his operational decision “that all officers and members of the public, regardless of where they are in Scotland” be entitled to the same consistent and proportionate level of protection afforded by a standing firearms authority.
The two-page letter to the Liberal Democrat leader carries a pledge that the police chief will consider the council’s objection to the move when the time comes to review the standing order.
He adds: “In doing so I do not want to create unrealistic expectations but I can confirm, that the council’s views will be registered alongside the range of intelligence, threat and risk assessments that will be considered.”
Councillor Alston said it was clear Sir Stephen was not going to change his mind.
He said: “I think that runs contrary to the assurances we were given when the single police force was brought forward. We were promised there would be flexibility.
“But I also think this raises what really is the big issue here. We need to know the extent of his powers and what checks and balances are made on what he incorrectly considers to be the right decision.
"If this is a problem with the way in which the law is framed then I think it’s something which needs to be addressed by Parliament in Holyrood because that’s the body that creates our laws.”
A total of 275 dedicated firearms officers are deployed on a shift pattern basis to carry handguns in a holster while on routine patrol across Scotland but only a small number are actually deployed at one time.
There are 30 in the Highlands and Islands, of which 17 are based in the Inverness area.
Prior to the new policy implemented in April 2013, guns were locked in secure cabinets in the boot of patrol cars. The change came to light a few weeks ago.
