North MP Danny Alexander has demanded a meeting with Scotland’s chief constable following the “offensive” routine deployment of armed police in the Highlands.
Figures released earlier this year showed that a team of 16 officers in the north have been carrying holstered pistols at their side for more than a year.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen House has said the policy will allow the police to react more quickly to potential incidents.
But Mr Alexander said he was still concerned and “offended” by officers in the Highlands carrying firearms as a matter of course.
“Like most Highlanders I’m offended by the idea that police officers should be going around the Highland routinely with firearms on them,” he said.
“One of the things that has become apparent is that there has been very little scrutiny of this policy decision with all of its ramifications before it was made and that is very troubling.
“I am seeking a meeting with Stephen House and I’m hoping to see him in the next couple of weeks because I want a chance to express directly to him my worries and worries on behalf of my constituents.
“It has become clear that he is the person who has the power to change this and I would hope that he would listen to these arguments and would respect the fact that most Highlanders don’t want police officer being armed routinely in their streets and villages.”
A police spokesman said: “We have received Mr Alexander’s request and we are considering it.”
The majority of Highland councillors have previously said they do not want police to routinely carry weapons, calling for the policy to be dropped.
Mr Alexander added: “It’s been interesting seeing the response to this in many different places.
“I never wanted to see Northern Constabulary scrapped. I think we had a good way of policing in the Highlands, very much a community style of policing.
“My worry was that we would see tactics used in other parts of the country creeping here where they are just not appropriate.
“We’re seeing it now with the arming of police officers and I think a lot of people have been surprised by the strength of public feeling.”