Record View says an increase in armed officer incidents begs the question as to whether there is enough scrutiny over the use of guns by officers.
The increasing deployment of armed officers in Scotland has become a necessary evil as gun crime becomes a fact of life on our streets. Today the Daily Record reveals that there has been a five-fold increase in armed officer incidents over the last ten years.
The rise has inevitably led to questions over why this has happened and whether there is enough scrutiny over the use of guns by officers? The roots of this change trace back to the formation of Police Scotland in 2013, when specialist Armed Response Vehicle officers were authorised to respond to routine incidents.
This sparked immediate controversy with critics decrying the “Americanisation” of Scottish policing and fears that visible guns on everyday patrols would erode public trust and community consent. Public outcry led to a swift policy reversal and armed officers were again restricted to firearms-related calls or threats to life.
But the role of armed police has been expanded since then and they are now an increasingly common sight. The Police Federation argue that this expansion is vital.
Terrorism threats, increasing use of guns by organised crime gangs and increased attacks on officers all make armed police on our streets a vital part of policing. But civil rights groups are right to urge caution. Policing in Scotland is still based on the principles of consent, community involvement and respect.
Those must remain the cornerstones of law enforcement – rather than increasing use of potentially lethal force. Greater independent oversight and public dialogue are needed to ensure deployments remain exceptional – not habitual.
End migrant hate
Residents in a Scottish housing estate have told the Daily Record they are scared to leave their own homes due to the intimidating actions of anti-immigration protesters. A pregnant woman living close to the site of repeated anti-refugee protests has described how she was swarmed by men after she asked them to quieten down.
Small children have been left cowering in their bedrooms, frightened to come out. Families living in the Reid Square area of Dundee described how they are being subjected to racial slurs, profanities and comments about paedophiles.
Those responsible have been emboldened by the likes of Nigel Farage and Reform’s constant rhetoric against migrants. There is nothing wrong with peaceful protests and there are legitimate concerns over immigration which governments in London and Edinburgh need to address.
But harassing people just trying to get on with their lives is not on – and needs to stop.
