Coming soon to a street near you, the armed beat bobby
POLICE are preparing for a U-turn on armed policing to allow officers with handguns to take part in some routine duties.
An announcement by Police Scotland was expected yesterday but called off amid claims – denied by police – of concerns raised about a lack of public consultation.
Under a secret directive issued after the launch of the single force in 2013, firearms officers were authorised to be sent on routine call-outs.
It led to criticism of a ‘heavyhanded’ approach and, in October 2014, then Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House said armed officers would only be deployed to incidents involving ‘threats to life’.
But the Mail has learned that an increase in armed officers – and recent terror attacks – have persuaded top brass to allow armed officers to take part in a wider range of duties.
This could include assisting in the pursuit of suspects who are not believed to be armed, or searching for missing people, while carrying side-arms. The plans were meant to be included in Scottish Police Authority (SPA) papers yesterday, ahead of a board meeting next week.
But it is understood the watchdog feared a repeat of the secrecy row and was concerned fuller consultation was needed.
Last night, police sources denied this, insisting the documents outlining the changes simply needed a ‘minor tweak’. A source said: ‘Engagement has happened and will continue to happen and that is vital for us.’
It also emerged 500 extra officers will be armed with Taser stun guns, in addition to the firearms officers attached to Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs) who currently carry them. The plan is for the new Taser officers to patrol in cars but, longer term, they could be on foot patrol.
At the moment, armed officers patrol in ARVs and can intervene when they believe a crime is being committed. But in future they will be able to take part in a wider range of duties.
Overseen by specially trained bosses in control rooms, they would be deployed where one of three new criteria is satisfied – public protection, vulnerability or speed of response.
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘This is clearly a controversial move but the safety of the public and the officers themselves has to be paramount.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We will be taking a paper to the SPA in due course.’
An SPA spokesman said: ‘The SPA is expecting Police Scotland to bring forward papers to a future board meeting.’
Caldwell probe – Page 28