The photo Blair McMaster posted to his Facebook page. It was taken while on he was on holiday in New Zealand. Photo / Facebook
The photo Blair McMaster posted to his Facebook page. It was taken while on he was on holiday in New Zealand. Photo / Facebook
An award-winning police officer from the UK has been criticised after he posted on Facebook a photograph of children in New Zealand holding an assault rifle and a Glock pistol.
Firearms officer Blair McMaster, 39, who works in the Scottish Highlands, posted the picture of a young boy and girlholding the automatic weapons on his open social media page. It was taken while he was on holiday in New Zealand.
The boy, who appears to be aged around eight is posing with what is believed to be an M4 assault rifle, while the girl - aged around six - has what looks like a Glock handgun. Both weapons are understood to be real.
"This image of armed children is absolutely sickening," a member of the public who discovered the picture told the Daily Record.
"McMaster must actually think that this is a good role model for children at this age."
The photograph was posted to McMaster's Facebook page in December 2010 but had been taken two years earlier.
The source said the use of the image raised questions over father-of-four McMaster's judgement.
He added: "Whatever way you look at it, it is a disgrace that an armed response police officer believes this is an appropriate image for a public audience.
"Putting something like this on a public forum absolutely beggars belief. McMaster should be ashamed of himself."
Armed response officer McMaster also has a photograph on his page from March 2013 of himself aiming a hunting rifle.
He also has a Mr Men-style cartoon of a muscular police officer described in the picture as "Mr Elite ARV/TSG officer".
The abbreviation ARV is short for Armed Response Vehicle, while TSG describes Territorial Support Group - the Metropolitan Police's riot squad.
Police chiefs have said McMaster will be given "appropriate advice" about his use of social media.
Chief Superintendent Elaine Ferguson said: "The first picture was taken on a holiday in New Zealand in 2008 on a visit to police station in a safe, controlled and supervised environment.
"The second picture was taken in March 2013 with a legally-held weapon while the officer was off-duty.
"Officers and staff are reminded of their personal responsibility when using social media in a private capacity.
"We will continue to look into this matter and provide the officer with the appropriate advice."
