§ Mr. GallieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what firearms training police officers undergo who carry out duties(a) as an authorised firearms officer, (b) as a member of the tactical firearms unit, (c) as a CID firearms officer and (d) as a member of the firearms training department; and with what frequency in each case;
(2) if he will make a statement on the availability for call out of each category of firearms officers.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 29 April 1994]: Firearm training undertaken by police officers in Scotland is carried out in strict compliance with the manual of guidance on the police use of firearms adopted by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. Training input varies from force to force. In general, authorised firearms officers receive training on weapon handling and safety, firearms tactics, administration of firearms incidents and shooting skills. Where forces have tactical firearms units, or their equivalent, officers in them receive additional training which includes instruction on rapid intervention techniques. In forces which deploy them, CID firearms officers undergo the same training as authorised firearms officers and, if appropriate, receive additional specialised training in VIP protection duties. Officers who are members of firearms training departments have in most cases successfully completed the national firearms instructor's course conducted at one of the national police firearms training centres. In addition some personnel have undertaken a national bodyguard's course, a national rifleman's course and a local marksman's course.
Length of initial training also varies from force to force. On average authorised firearms officers receive 11 days' training; members of tactical firearms units, or their equivalent, receive 25 days' training; CID firearms officers receive 15 days' training; and members of firearms training departments receive 18 days' training. In each case refresher training is provided annually.
Chief constables can deploy police officers who have undergone firearm training in each category on a 24–hour basis.
§ Mr. GallieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many police officers in(a) the Strathclyde police area and (b) Scotland are authorised to carry firearms;
(2) on how many occasions in the last two years police firearms have been discharged in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 29 April 1994]: There are currently 210 police officers in Strathclyde police authorised to carry firearms and a total of 712 officers in Scotland. Police firearms have been discharged on six occasions in the last two years in Scotland.