Force failing to hit targets for more officers carrying guns
POLICE chiefs are struggling to recruit all of the extra armed officers they promised last year, it was claimed yesterday.
In June 2016, the single force announced the number on the streets would sharply increase.
Police Scotland, which said it had 275 officers attached to armed response vehicles at the time, announced plans to add a further 90 by spring this year.
Overall, the force said it would boost the number of officers within armed policing by 124 – a figure which also includes other roles such as trainers.
Then in August last year, top brass changed their stance and said that the training would be completed by this summer – but the Mail has learned recruitment is still ongoing.
Police chiefs have insisted no firm target had been set for the recruitment of the armed officers and the process will be completed soon.
The disclosure will heighten fears over the country’s readiness for a terror attack, following the Parsons Green Tube explosion last week.
Police sources told the Mail that detailed vetting of candidates for armed roles – for example ensuring there are no debt or domestic problems which could create a psychological imbalance – and lengthy training periods, are among ‘disincentives’ for signing up to be an armed officer. One high-ranking insider said: ‘Part of the problem is getting people to apply, and then the issue is that not all of those who apply will make the grade.’
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), representing rank-and-file officers, has said that Scotland is ‘woefully under-equipped’ for a major act of terror.
SPF general secretary Calum Steele expressed ‘disappointment’ over the failure to recruit all of the extra armed officers. He said a recent terror attack in the Spanish town of Cambrils showed the need to ensure a fast armed response to more remote areas.
Mr Steele added that the SPF ‘is in regular dialogue with the service regarding its armed capability and we recognise that the service continues to work exceptionally hard to meet its own high expectations’.
In June last year, police chiefs said the plan for more armed officers was in response to assessments of the threat from terrorism and the use of firearms by home-based criminal gangs.
Since then a spate of terror attacks linked to IS have taken place.
Police did not publish a specific date for completion of the process. Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: ‘Police Scotland is an unarmed service with an armed capability which is proportionate with the rest of the UK police forces and ensures we offer the right level of protection to our communities.
‘We announced some time ago that we are increasing our capability by 124 officers... we will complete this uplift in the near future.’
In June 2016, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said Police Scotland’s decision to increase the number of armed officers had the backing of ministers. He confirmed that the officers would remain restricted from routine deployment following a public outcry over their attendance at minor incidents in 2014.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘No one wants to see armed police at every street corner, but there is an ongoing threat of terror in the UK.
‘Police Scotland said they would complete recruitment by this summer and it should now explain why this has not happened.’
Scottish Labour justice spokesman Claire Baker called it ‘concerning’ that the force had not managed to recruit the planned number of armed officers.
The Scottish Government said: ‘Deployment of armed police is an operational decision for the chief constable, with the planned uplift to be completed shortly.’
‘Ongoing terror threat’