FEARS that all police officers in Scotland could be armed have been raised following the implementation of controversial new policing measures.

On Monday, Police Scotland officially extended the role of its armed response vehicle (ARV) officers.

The move means that gun cops will be sent to a range of non-firearms calls, such as drink-driving, to support regular officers.

Police Scotland’s Chief Superintendent Brian McInulty insisted the new deployment model wouldn’t affect officers’ ability to deal with terrorism and serious organised crime.

But Glasgow councillor Anne McTaggart raised concerns it could lead to all officers being armed.

She said: “I see our armed police service as a specialised unit and I would want it to remain as a specialised unit.

“Will it end up whereby our police officers on the streets will carry guns? Will our campus police be carrying guns?

“We want our streets to be safe, we want our people to be safe but I’m not sure if this is a form of safety that I’d adhere to.

“Ordinary police don’t go into it to shoot guns, our police go into the force to make the streets safe.”

Ms McTaggart added that having gun cops sent to deal with smaller matters could encourage criminals to arm themselves.

Last week Glasgow’s top cop Mr McInulty sent letters to the city’s elected members advising them of the changes to the ARV officers’ roles.

He said: “Police Scotland announced plans to extend the role of ARV officers to allow them to be deployed to non-firearms calls as well as continuing to provide specialist support to local communities to address the threat from terrorism and serious organised crime.

“ARV officers will now support colleagues and the public by responding to a wider range of incidents with an emphasis on public protection, vulnerability and speed of response.

“This will include incidents where their enhanced medical skills are of great benefit to the public. Where appropriate, they will also support local and national campaigns, such as drink-driving.

“The revised deployment model will not detract ARV offices from their primary purpose and these officers will continue to be managed by specially-trained supervisors across Scotland.

“This will ensure that ARV officers remain available to be deployed to firearms and threat to life incidents.”

The Chief Superintendent added armed police would continue to be managed by specially-trained supervisors.

And he claimed that would allow ARV officers to remain available for deployment to firearms and “threat to life incidents”.

East Renfrewshire councillor David MacDonald said he believes that in 10 years time all Scottish officers will be armed.

He said: “I think the main reason [for the change] is lack of resources for community policing. They have to draw in officers from other departments to increase presence.

“I think it’s the direction the UK is going. I don’t think it will be more than 10 years before all police officers will be armed.”

Earlier this month the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) announced that it was investigating an incident where officers pointed firearms at several people in Glasgow in April.

The watchdog would not provide details of where the incidents took place but it was confirmed that they happened during an “on-going investigation”.

Police Scotland said the new deployment model is not in response to escalating gun violence across Glasgow and its surrounding areas in the last year.

In March 2017 Ross Craig was received bullets to the arm and leg by a man he saw standing at the bottom of his driveway.

In November dad-of-two Euan “EJ” Johnston died after being shot in the head while sitting in his Audi RS4 at traffic lights in Kinning Park.

Two months later, Ross Monaghan was shot while on the school-run in Penilee.

Cambuslang Rangers manager Paul McColl was shot in the face and stomach in February.

The following month Robert Daniel was targeted in his driveway by a gunman.

Last month the Calton home of John Bisland was riddled with bullets during a drive-by shooting, although no-one was injured.

And on April 16 Kenny Reilly was shot dead after pulling up in a car on Maryhill Road.

Labour’s Justice Spokesman Daniel Johnson MSP said, despite a rise in gun violence, people do not want armed police at routine incidents.

He said: “I have concerns about armed officers routinely attending a wider range of incidents. The public do not want nor expect police who attend routine response calls to be armed.

“Armed officers should continue to be used by exception, with careful monitoring of their use.”