A cross-party group of Highland councillors will this week call for a controversial policy of routinely arming police officers to be abandoned.
Police Scotland has faced criticism in the north for the use of specialist officers who carry handguns whenever they are on duty.
Six local members – including deputy council leader David Alston – have now signed a motion arguing that weapons should be stored securely in vehicles rather than carried in a holster.
The demand comes just two weeks after the region’s top officer visited a council committee in an effort to allay fears about the strategy.
One senior member of the administration said yesterday that the face-to-face meeting had increased his concerns, however.
Deputy leader Mr Alston also said that the issue should be debated in the Scottish Parliament.
Officers were given the authority to carry weapons during the final months of Northern Constabulary in 2013, although the issue only became public earlier this year.
Mr Alston said he had concerns over the nature of policing and the process behind the decision to use armed officers across the country.
He added: “I have no problem with armed officers turning up where they are deemed necessary.
“But I think the idea that they cannot remove their arms is bizarre.
“The meeting increased my fears because only at that point did I realise that they could not remove their sidearms when they were on duty.”
Mr Alston added that the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill “needs to take an active interest” in the issue.
He said: “If he believes that the policy is correct, then it should be debated in the Scottish Parliament.”
The motion states: “The Highlands are a safe place and we are proud of its tradition of community policing.
“We do not believe that the introduction of Armed Response Units, in which officers routinely carry side arms (rather than having them stored in secure cabinets in vehicles for use when needed), is appropriate for the Highlands.
“We therefore call on Police Scotland to change its policy and, if necessary, seek changes in the regulations governing a standing authority to carry arms in order to make this possible.”
Those signing the motion alongside Mr Alston are his Liberal Democrat colleague Kate Stephen and SNP councillors Richard Laird and Bill Lobban.
Labour member Deirdre Mackay is also named, along with independent councillor Matthew Reiss, who is a former police officer.
Mrs Mackay contrasted the situation with the debate that took place at the former police board when tasers were introduced in the Highlands.
She added: “The police do not have carte blanche to do what they like.”
Mr Reiss said he did not understand police claims that keeping weapons inside their vehicles would delay a response.
He said: “Unless they are wearing their full body armor and all other equipment they are still going to have to stop en route.”
He said he was also concerned that the presence of armed officers could lead to an escalation of events when dealing with routine offences.
Council leader Drew Hendry said last night that the policy should have been explained by Northern Constabulary at the time.
He added: “It was a deficit that it did not come before councillors at the old police board.”
The issue will be debated at a full council meeting on Thursday in Inverness.
No one from Police Scotland was available to comment on the council’s motion yesterday.
However, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Armed policing officers have been a longstanding feature of policing in Scotland and it is for the chief constable to make operational decisions about the necessary and proportionate use of firearms.
“Police Scotland’s dedicated firearms officers are available to protect the public 24 hours a day and are now able to go directly to a scene and provide immediate protection in emergencies without having to stop and arm themselves.
“In addition, they are available to support routine policing duties in communities, ensuring the most effective and efficient use of their time.”