The number of armed police officers is to surge by a third – despite there being no specific terror threat to Scotland.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson told parliament that an extra 124 officers will be recruited to bolster armed response units.
But the Scottish Government minister said the move was not in response to a specific terrorist threat – and suggested officers carrying guns could be involved in routine police business.
In 2014, pistol-carrying police on routine patrol in the Highlands left communities outraged.
Former chief constable Stephen House was eventually forced in to a humiliating climb-down on the issue.
But Mr Matheson told parliament yesterday that there were circumstances when armed police would be expected to deal with non-life threatening incidents – although he insisted there would be “no return” to armed officers being “routinely deployed”.
He said: “The vast majority of Scotland’s police officers are not routinely armed and we have made an unequivocal commitment that that position will not change.
“Of our 17,317 police officers only a small proportion have standing firearms authority to carry weapons.
“This will now increase, but will still represent a small percentage, fewer than one in 40 officers.
“Armed response officers will be able to continue to use their professional judgement as police constables to deal with any situation they come across during the course of their patrols.”
Police Scotland confirmed an additional 124 officers would be given firearms training, with 90 of those being dedicated to armed response units.
Previously, the force had 275 dedicated to armed response vehicles. Officials said they could not provide details of where the new officers would be deployed, citing “operational security”.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said the approach they set to armed policing three years ago was out of date after marauding terrorist attacks in places like Paris, Brussels and Orlando.
“The threat level to the UK remains severe. There is no specific known threat to Scotland and this increase is not a response to any direct intelligence,” he said.
“But we must play our part in ensuring the safety and security of the whole of the UK.
“It would be dangerously complacent to think that Scotland is any less at risk than the rest of the UK and this move helps enhance our response.”
He said the nature of the threat from terrorists has changed as well as “our understanding and assessment of criminal access to and use of firearms”.
Mr Higgins added they believe in the “values of an unarmed police service in Scotland”, but a small group of armed officers is necessary.
