LEADERS of Scotland’s 32 councils called for a meeting yesterday with police chief Sir Stephen House over the controversial practice of routine arming of police officers.

Council leaders unanimously backed a report which recommended “the principle that police officers should not carry firearms on regular duties” at a meeting of local government umbrella body Cosla on Friday.

The Cosla report raises issues including a lack of consultation on the decision and the effect on the public’s perception of Police Scotland.

A spokesman for the Scottish government said decisions on “the use of resources, including armed police officers” were “clearly a matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.”

He added that “scrutiny of Police Scotland is in place through the statutory role of the Scottish Police Authority.”

Labour’s justice spokesperson Graeme Pearson MSP said the decision by the council leaders to oppose armed policing showed “the concern that exists in communities across the country about this fundamental change in policing policy, and in the lack of accountability — both at a local and national level — in the current scrutiny process.”

The Scottish parliament’s justice subcommittee on policing is currently looking at the issue of armed police officers.