More armed Scots cops drafted in

AN extra 90 firearms officers are being drafted in to protect the public from terror attacks.

Police Scotland said it was close to achieving the target number of specialist officers.

A spokeswoman told The Sunday Post: “We are working towards achieving a total of 365 armed response vehicle officers in the very near future.”

The decision to boost numbers, using volunteers from within the force, was announced last year by Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins.

At the time, he said: “It would be dangerously complacent to think that Scotland is any less at risk than the rest of the UK and this move helps enhance our response.”

For “operational reasons” the force wouldn’t reveal how or where the officers would be deployed.

The force also declined to say how many un-armed officers were patrolling Scotland’s streets or if other precautionary measures were being considered at landmark locations.

Following attacks in London, security barriers were erected on three of the city’s bridges.

Last night, the spokeswoman added: “The UK threat level remains at severe.

“We have no specific information that Scotland is at risk of attack.

“We ask people to go about their business as normal, remaining alert but not alarmed and to report any concerns to Police Scotland on 101 or, in an emergency, 999.”