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| Kenny MacAskill statement expected on armed police | Kenny MacAskill statement expected on armed police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is expected to make a statement to MSPs later on the issue of police officers routinely carrying handguns. | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is expected to make a statement to MSPs later on the issue of police officers routinely carrying handguns. |
| Police Scotland has said the deployment of a small number of armed officers was needed "to address a risk". | Police Scotland has said the deployment of a small number of armed officers was needed "to address a risk". |
| But politicians from the Highlands and Highland Council have raised concerns about the issue. | |
| Petitions opposing the policy have also been started by MP Danny Alexander and the Inverness Courier newspaper. | Petitions opposing the policy have also been started by MP Danny Alexander and the Inverness Courier newspaper. |
| Chief Constable Sir Stephen House has said a routine review of the policy would take place in September, but Police Scotland has also said that the operational decision was unlikely to change in the near future. | Chief Constable Sir Stephen House has said a routine review of the policy would take place in September, but Police Scotland has also said that the operational decision was unlikely to change in the near future. |
| Strathclyde Police, Tayside Police and Northern Constabulary allowed specialist officers to carry guns routinely before the creation of a single force in Scotland. | Strathclyde Police, Tayside Police and Northern Constabulary allowed specialist officers to carry guns routinely before the creation of a single force in Scotland. |
| Police Scotland has adopted the approach across the country since its launch in April last year and it has included the use of a small number of firearms officers in the Highlands. | Police Scotland has adopted the approach across the country since its launch in April last year and it has included the use of a small number of firearms officers in the Highlands. |
| Following a meeting with Highland councillors last month, divisional commander Ch Supt Elaine Ferguson said the policy was unlikely to change. | Following a meeting with Highland councillors last month, divisional commander Ch Supt Elaine Ferguson said the policy was unlikely to change. |
| She said armed police deployments were an operational decision made by the chief constable and there was not a requirement to consult publicly on the move. | She said armed police deployments were an operational decision made by the chief constable and there was not a requirement to consult publicly on the move. |
| "I cannot say it will never change, but it's there to address a risk that is there," added Ch Supt Ferguson. | "I cannot say it will never change, but it's there to address a risk that is there," added Ch Supt Ferguson. |
| Mr MacAskill previously spoke on the issue in the Scottish Parliament in May. | Mr MacAskill previously spoke on the issue in the Scottish Parliament in May. |
| He said it was necessary for trained firearms officers to be readily available to respond quickly to "urgent and unexpected threats". | He said it was necessary for trained firearms officers to be readily available to respond quickly to "urgent and unexpected threats". |
| Mr MacAskill said Police Scotland has 275 firearms officers - 1.6% of Police Scotland's personnel - and they were deployed on a shift pattern basis. | Mr MacAskill said Police Scotland has 275 firearms officers - 1.6% of Police Scotland's personnel - and they were deployed on a shift pattern basis. |
| He added: "Consequently, only a small number will actually be deployed across our communities at any one time." | He added: "Consequently, only a small number will actually be deployed across our communities at any one time." |
| The justice secretary also said that the police authority and police investigation and review commissioner could review the deployment of firearms officers. | The justice secretary also said that the police authority and police investigation and review commissioner could review the deployment of firearms officers. |