Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye Lochaber and Badenoch has received a response to his letter on armed policing from Sir Stephen House Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

Sir Stephen said that the Standing Firearms Authority is subject to continual regular review and he has given undertakings that the concerns expressed by Highland politicians will be considered at the next review which will take place in September.

Mr Thompson said: “I welcome the undertaking to consider the views of politicians though I well understand that operational policing cannot be subject to regular political intervention”.

He went on: “I also welcome the information that the next review of the Standing Firearms Authority, given we are almost into August, is set for September. Finally, it is reassuring to know that only a small number of officers are armed at any one time, as the numbers specified equates to less than 2% of the force”.

Sir Stephen also points out in his letter that the Armed Policing Strategic Threat and Risk Assessment is a sensitive and classified document and it would not be appropriate to make it public.