POLICE Scotland was warned of "worrying" gaps in the country's counter-terrorism strategy long before a report revealed concern in some areas, it is claimed.
The body which represents rank-and-file officers said it has raised fears over shortfalls in anti-terrorist security since before the single force was set up in 2013, following the merger of the eight regional forces.
Below: SPF general secretary Calum Steele
The news comes after Police Scotland identified gaps in Scotland's counter-terrorism strategy, according to a classified police paper published in error on the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) website.
It also revealed the force's civilian watchdog has been told police and partner authorities have yet to draw up a consistent list of vulnerable sites in Scotland.
Police found "knowledge gaps" in some councils, which it expects will be replicated elsewhere, and it is now developing counter-terrorism training tools for people such as health workers, police and teachers.
Calum Steele, SPF general secretary, pictured below, said after the report was published: "The SPF has warned that Scotland is under prepared, under resourced and under equipped when it comes to terrorism.
"It is now abundantly clear that despite public pronouncements to the contrary, that our concerns are entirely justified."
Graeme Pearson MSP, Labour security spokesman and former director general of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency pictured below, described the push to save more than £1 billion through police reform as woeful.
He said: "Knowledge gaps are always worrying.
“I am glad to know there is an awareness of the gaps, though I am concerned about the SNP government's ability to respond positively to that awareness given their woeful performance on police reform."
The impact in this country of the upsurge in Islamic State, or Daesh, was highlighted after Scots jihadi bride Aqsa Mahmood left her Glasgow home in 2013 for Syria. She has written a blog in which she has published advice for women wanting to travel to join the terrorist group.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "The public should be confident that Police Scotland's priority is to ensure their safety and security; we want people to be alert but not alarmed.
"We constantly review security plans taking into account specific intelligence and the wider threat."
Below: Paris responded to attacks
An SPA spokeswoman said: "The original Police Scotland Improvement tracker incorporated detailed additional information requested by members of the committee in support of their consideration of this item and the public paper.
"The additional detailed information was protectively marked and was not for public consumption. It was uploaded on to the SPA website in error. It has since been removed and replaced with the public version."
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