1,000 signatures reached
To: Police Scotland Chief Constable, Stephen House
Stop the Scottish police routinely carrying firearms
The policy of Scottish firearms officers now carrying their weapons on routine patrols is unnecessary and fuels a climate of fear.
We’re calling on you to revert this policy. For safety, firearms should be locked away and only taken out by a firearms officer when it is deemed necessary and authorised by a senior officer.
We’re calling on you to revert this policy. For safety, firearms should be locked away and only taken out by a firearms officer when it is deemed necessary and authorised by a senior officer.
Why is this important?
If police carry arms routinely, this will fuel fear and criminals might arm themselves more heavily.
Despite this, a number of police officers (around 300) are now routinely carrying sidearms while on patrol in much of Scotland. Armed police officers have been seen in a bakery, in a branch of Aldi and at a routine traffic incident in Glasgow - all incidents where it was unnecessary for the officer to have a firearm by his side.
Until 2009, firearms officers had to keep their weapons in a locked safe and have a senior officer’s authorisation to take them. Firearms officers should revert back to this practice, because it is not necessary that they take their arms on routine patrol.
Despite this, a number of police officers (around 300) are now routinely carrying sidearms while on patrol in much of Scotland. Armed police officers have been seen in a bakery, in a branch of Aldi and at a routine traffic incident in Glasgow - all incidents where it was unnecessary for the officer to have a firearm by his side.
Until 2009, firearms officers had to keep their weapons in a locked safe and have a senior officer’s authorisation to take them. Firearms officers should revert back to this practice, because it is not necessary that they take their arms on routine patrol.
