Terror alert sees police at Holyrood get Tasers
POLICE patrolling outside the Scottish Parliament are to carry Tasers in the wake of the Westminster terror attack.
MSPs and Holyrood staff were informed of the move in advance of an announcement from Police Scotland regarding a review of security arrangements at Holyrood.
It follows the attack by terrorist Khalid Masood, who killed four people in an 82-second rampage in London last week.
The 52-year-old was shot dead by armed police after fatally knifing Pc Keith Palmer in the Palace of Westminster’s cobbled forecourt.
In a letter to staff, Holyrood chief executive Paul Grice said: “Police Scotland will announce this morning that police officers carrying Tasers will patrol the public area outside of the Scottish Parliament building.
“Police Scotland has assured us that the move is an operational contingency measure and is not based on any intelligence threat in relation to the Parliament or Scotland.
“Following on from the Westminster attack, Police Scotland will undertake a review of its security arrangements at Holyrood.
“The results of that review will be reported to the SPCB (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body) for its consideration.”
Two officers equipped with Tasers will be on duty at Holyrood at any one time, with the site covered 24 hours a day, it is understood.
The officers deployed will be fully-trained firearms officers carrying Tasers only.
Other firearms officers, while not deployed inside Holyrood, are believed to be in the vicinity of the parliament building and the wider government estate in Edinburgh.
The full-scale review of security at the Scottish Parliament is expected to take about three weeks to report back to senior police officers.
Deputy Chief Constable Johnny Gwynne, of Police Scotland, told reporters the deployment was a “sensible” move which will be kept under review.
Speaking in East Kilbride, he said: “This morning we have increased our presence at the parliament site at Holyrood. There are police officers deployed with Taser.
“That is a sensible precaution, it is not in response to any direct threat.”
Meanwhile, police in Scotland are not equipped to respond to a fast-moving attack such as last week’s terrorist incident in London, the leader of rank-and-file officers north of the border has warned.
Calum Steele, head of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), said officers do not have the equipment they need to protect themselves or the public.