The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Police at Holyrood to be armed with Tasers
Scots parliament security review after London attack
Police patrolling outside the Scottish Parliament are to carry Tasers in the wake of the Westminster terror attack.
MSPs andHolyrood 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 with effect from today.
“Police Scotland has assured us that themoveisan 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 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.
“It’s been a very conscious and well-thought outdeploymentbyusandit will continue until we consider it’s no longer appropriate. (It’s) to support the police team there and the protection of our seat of democracy.”
He insisted, when questioned, it was not an admission the parliament was not secure enough before. will be 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.
There were calls for all officers to be equipped with Tasers and an increase in the number of armed officers in a discussion at the SPF annual conference on Tuesday.
Members discussed an emergency motion on the policing response and readiness of officers in Scotland to deal with the terror threat in light of the recent “brutal and savage murder” of Pc Keith Palmer in the London attack.
They also considered whether officers have sufficient personal protective equipment, including firearms, to be able to protect themselves in the event of a terrorist incident.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Steele said: “The message that came out loud and clear is that police officers do not have the equipment to be able to protect themselves and the public.
“We know that batons don’t work, we know that in 40% of cases spray doesn’t work, we know that unarmed police officers are not only sent to incidents of knives but also to reports of firearms. That’s a disgraceful position to find ourselves in and it’s unforgivable.
“The events atWestminster took place in less than 90 seconds.
“No force in the world can stop those kind of events, but police should be given the equipment they need to protect themselves and the public if events unfold quickly.”