Highland Council is demanding a rethink of Police Scotland’s firearms policy amid growing concerns over officers routinely carrying pistols on north streets.
Two specialist officers arrived at the local authority’s Inverness HQ to meet members of the community safety committee yesterday – carrying holstered 9mm Glocks.
They insisted the weapons had not damaged their relationship with members of the public as they chatted with councillors.
But the officers’ charm offensive failed to allay their fears and the local authority will now write to Chief Constable Sir Stephen House and the Scottish Police Authority to protest about the change in firearms policy.
One member of the community safety committee said armed officers should be the “exception and not the rule”.
Councillors fear the firearms policy sends out the wrong message about the area – which has been described as the safest region in the country – and risks escalating minor incidents.
But the north’s most senior officer, Chief Superintendent Julian Innes, said he fully supported the policy as it prevented delays in officers responding to serious incidents by having to drive to pick up firearms.
The issue was first raised by Highland MSP John Finnie, who is a former policeman.
A team of 16 officers in the north have been carrying holstered pistols at their side for more than a year.
They have been actively deployed on 41 occasions, but have never fired their weapons.
Councillor Matthew Reiss, a former chief inspector, said he had a “nagging doubt” about the new gun policy.
He added that having armed police changed the image of the force.
He said: “We are proud of having low crime but I wonder what message this sends out.”
Councillor David Alston, deputy leader of the council, said: “This group, whenever they are on duty, has firearms and that creates the problem.
“There was no process of public debate about the risks or benefits of alternatives. That was a serious mistake.”
Councillor Kate Stephen suggested the firearms be kept in locked cabinets in the boots of police cars.
Council convener Jimmy Gray said: “We do not want police officers with the standing authority to carry firearms on the streets of Inverness and the Highlands.”
Councillor Richard Laird said: “Arming police officers must continue to be the exception and not the rule.”
But a number of SNP councillors said they were “comfortable” with the policy.
They included Ian Renwick, Gail Ross and Alan Duffy.
Committee chairman Drew Miller also said that he personally felt content with the policy having met the officers.
Mr Innes said that there had been criticism of the north area in the past because officers did not have immediate access to firearms and were delayed in responding to critical incidents.
Mr Innes said that keeping the guns in the boots of cars would delay their response by up to an extra 20 minutes.
He added: “This is a decision for the chief constable. He decides where any armed officers are present on the streets, not me.
“But I fully support that position.”
Last night Kit Fraser, the owner of popular Inverness bar and venue Hootananny, said the policy was a “gross overreaction”.
He added: “It’s crazy. This is not Chicago and Al Capone, it’s Inverness. It sends out completely the wrong message.”
Read our editor’s comment on police carrying guns in the Highlands.