Armed police officers to remain at Holyrood
Crime Reporter POLICE Scotland will maintain an armed officer presence at the Scottish Parliament, it has been confirmed.
The decision has been made following the three terrorist attacks this year in London and Manchester.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said that a review of security at Holyrood was carried out following the Westminster terror attack back in March.
Since then there has also been further terror attacks in London and Manchester.
A report was then compiled which made the recommendation to keep an armed police presence at the Scottish Parliament. The decision will be reviewed on a quarterly basis.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: “Following the terrorist attack at Westminster on March 22, 2017, officers armed with tasers were deployed at the Scottish Parliament, but that was increased to officers with conventional firearms after the hor- rific attack in Manchester and maintained following the terrorist attack in London.
“Over the last two and a half months a review of parliamentary security has been completed and a report has been provided to the Scottish Parliament.
“In support of one of the recommendations contained in the report we have made the operational decision to maintain armed police officer presence at the Scottish Parliament on an ongoing basis.
“This is an operational contingency to provide protection and reassurance to the public and staff who attend at the Scottish Parliament. This will hope- fully never be needed but demonstrates our ability to respond to any eventuality.
“This decision is proportionate and justified and is in line with the operational response at other devolved legislative assemblies in the UK, and will be reviewed on a quarterly basis in line with our other armed policing standing authorities.
“All communities in Scotland benefit from the protective policing offered by armed response officers and I am currently reviewing how all our armed response officers are deployed across the country to ensure that they are used to their maximum benefit.”