GREENS STRONGLY OPPOSE ARMED POLICE POLICY
Following the statement by the Justice Secretary, Green MSPs continue to oppose the arming of some police officers doing routine work in Scottish communities.
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, said:
"We do not want to look back in a decade and realise that police with guns have become the norm as they are in more militarised countries. Parliament must take a firm stand now and say that this cannot be the thin end of the wedge.
"The new change in the reporting of armed police numbers will do little to reassure those who see officers with guns on the street. Greens want our communities to be safe for all, but aggressive policing is not the way to achieve this."