Findings of police gun probe to be published next week
THE findings of a formal review into controversial rules that allowed Scottish police officers to carry guns to everyday incidents will be published next week.
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) has carried out a review while the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has undertaken a "scrutiny inquiry" of the practice.
The probes were announced amid mounting pressure with officers in Inverness photographed carrying loaded guns on the High Street mixing with the pub and club crowd on a Saturday night.
The Scottish Government insisted that only a small number of police officers are armed at any one time. And in a surprise U-turn in October the chief constable said firearms officers would in future only be deployed to firearms incidents or where there is a threat to life.
The SPA, which was set up in March 2013 to hold Chief Constable Sir Stephen House to account, wants to know how much consideration the single police force gave to local communities when it changed the rules and introduced a Standing Fire Arms Authority in April 2013.
Previously, guns were locked in a cabinet in the boot of patrol cars. The controversial new ruling did not come to light until June.
Derek Penman, HMICS, said the review would be an "objective professional assessment" on whether Police Scotland has followed "relevant guidance" on armed officers.
He said Police Scotland requested the review but it would be "independent" with a "remit and scope" to bring about conclusions that will "strengthen public confidence in policing".
The SPA will then draw together its own evidence and that from the HMICS review, reporting overall findings and recommendations on December 17.