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Shoppers were stunned to find an armed policeman at a supermarket checkout last weekend.

The officer, who was carrying a Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol, was spotted at a Tesco Extra in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, at 5.30pm on Saturday December 3.

One shopper, a former police officer, who took the picture said: “I was shocked to see this in a busy supermarket on a Saturday night.

“I didn’t think this was still supposed to be happening but even if it is allowed, I think it’s a case of senior officers pushing the boundaries.

“My colleagues and I had to keep our batons and handcuffs out of view so as not to look aggressive - and there was a mainland IRA bombing campaign on at the time.

“Operational intelligence has been proven as key to defeating terrorism and serious crime, not making armed police an everyday sight.”

Superintendent Kirk Kinnell, head of armed policing for Police Scotland, said the force was “sensitive” to public concerns but added armed officers “are on duty in the communities of Scotland to keep people safe and provide reassurance”.

(Image: Thomas Media)

He added: “Armed response officers are entitled to purchase food while on duty. The safest place for them to keep their sidearms is on their person.”

Police Scotland were forced into a humiliating climbdown in 2014 when then Chief Constable Stephen House said officers would no longer carry guns on routine patrols.

He had begun allowing armed officers to carry out normal duties without consulting MSPs or the public in 2013.

But he was forced into a U-turn after public outrage.

The force said armed officers would only be deployed when “firearms offences are taking place, or where there is a threat to life”.

The climb-down came after officers with semi-automatic pistols had been seen on Glasgow’s Argyle Street in July 1014 despite no reports of anything more sinister than the driver braking too sharply.

In the same month shoppers in Inverness were shocked to see officers with holstered weapons mingling with people out enjoying the summer sunshine.