By Vic Rodrick

PLANS to create an elite Swat team to deal with terrorist outbreaks and hostage incidents across Scotland have been shot down in flames by rank and file cops.

Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) provoked fury by proposing American style "chopper" squads to fly armed officers to major incidents.

The "supra-force" Special Weapons And Tactics teams would be available to all eight forces on 24-hour standby, but placed under the control of the unelected Scottish Police Services Authority.

But the controversial suggestion by assistant inspector of constabulary Malcolm Dickson, part of a shake-up of planned for policing, was condemned by the Scottish Police Federation.

It came in for severe criticism from members of Strathclyde Police Board, representing the only Scottish force with its own dedicated air support unit.

Currently, any other police force requiring air support must ask permission to borrow Strathclyde's helicopter "if it is not already being used" or arrange the hire of an aircraft locally.

Joe Grant, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, predicted that HMIC's plan for a national Swat team would never get off the ground.

He said: "A major problem with relying on air support to get armed officers to a scene in Scotland is the Scottish weather. This type of back-up is crucial and is used in life-threatening circumstances, but as a proposal, this shouldn't fly at all."

Grant said the federation wanted to see the public fully engaged in any debates about the future of policing.

A Strathclyde Police Board spokesman said its unanimous position was to oppose any transfer of specialist fire arms support and air support from Strathclyde to any other central or national service.

He said: "Care has to be taken that Strathclyde Police's capability is not damaged in individual cases by a desire to acquire' and redeploy nationally a service previously developed and maintained in Strathclyde to meet local need, but which would then be deployed in diluted fashion across Scotland.

"The comments on air support and specialist firearms suggest that the Board should be alert to any abstractions relating to those services. This slide towards the creation of a national police force is considered not to be acceptable."

Dickson defended the plan, saying: "It would make sense to consider this for supra-force' provision in future, particularly if there was a way in which air support could be consistently provided across the country.

"The incidence of hostage-taking and terrorist attack is very rare but must be considered in calculating threat, risk and need."