Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch met with Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, to discuss the on-going public concern over police officers routinely carrying sidearms in the Highlands.

Commenting after the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary, 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 has already written to Sir Stephen House, Chief Constable of Police and has raised the issue in the Chamber.

Dave 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”.

Dave went on, “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”.

He finished with, “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”.

Notes:

Armed police officers have been a longstanding feature of policing in Scotland, with former forces Strathclyde, Tayside and Northern Constabulary all having standing firearms authorities in place.

Over 98% of police remain unarmed.