Highlands MSP reassured on police guns
Badenoch MSP Dave Thompson has met with Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, to discuss the on-going public concern over police officers routinely carrying sidearms in the Highlands.
After the meeting, Mr Thompson said: “I am reassured that the review meeting in September will take representations from myself and other politicians seriously.
“I accept the need for a Standing Firearms Authority and I am confident that the matter of arming police will be dealt with in a sensitive manner”.
The use of a Standing Firearms Authority has been the subject of rigorous debate and speculation recently, which is why Mr Thompson had already written to Sir Stephen House, Chief Constable of Police and has raised the issue in the chamber.
He commented: “It is pleasing to have the Cabinet Secretary confirm that the concerns raised by Highland politicians will be considered at the next review – set to take place in September.
“I agree with the Cabinet Secretary that we must trust the police and not subject them to unreasonable political pressure, as operational policy should be made free from undue political interference, otherwise it has the potential to set a dangerous precedent.
“However, I am pleased that Police Scotland and HMICS will be participating in the September review and I very much look forward to the report on their findings."
