National Galleries of Scotland

Commissioned as part of a series titled `Force?, documenting the diverse roles of Scotland?s police force, this photograph shows the Firearms Support Unit. It has five specialised support functions and is responsible for attending all incidents involving the criminal use of firearms in the Lothian and Borders area. The Tactical Firearms Unit has in excess of 100 firearms officers. The Armed Response Vehicle Unit has two vehicles that are manned around the clock. The Airport Security Unit provides armed cover at Edinburgh Airport. The Security and Protection Unit offers protection to VIPs. The Operational Training Unit consists of qualified instructors who provide firearms training. Each instructor has an area of expertise and they give advice to commanders dealing with armed incidents.