Chief's apology for bomber gaffe

Mr Vine apologised "profusely" for the unscripted remark

A senior police officer has apologised for a remark he made about young suicide bombers while addressing lawyers at a gala dinner.

Tayside Police Chief Constable John Vine made the unscripted gaffe at the Perth Bar Association dinner in March.

Mr Vine said the remark was intended as a joke but it was "in poor taste" and he offered his apologies.

Bashir Maan, the Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, welcomed the apology.

He said the remark appeared to be out of character for Mr Vine, whom he had met many times.

Mr Vine, 50, was in charge of police security operations at last year's G8 summit at Gleneagles and is a former president of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos).

The Scotland on Sunday newspaper said he had been addressing about 250 guests at a dinner at the George Hotel in Perth.

I accept that the joke was in poor taste and I apologise profusely for any offence caused John Vine Tayside chief constable

Towards the end of the evening, Mr Vine told a joke about al-Qaeda fathers discussing their sons who had been suicide bombers.

Mr Vine said one of the fathers had remarked: "Kids blow up so quickly these days."

In a statement, Mr Vine said: "I did speak at the Perth Bar Association's private dinner in the George Hotel in Perth on Friday, 24 March where I did tell an unscripted joke during the toast.

"I accept that the joke was in poor taste and I apologise profusely for any offence caused."

'Nice man'

Dr Maan, a Glasgow councillor who chaired the Strathclyde Police board for four years, said: "He should have been more circumspect in making such a joke, which is clearly in bad taste.

"I met John Vine on many occasions while chairing the police board, I've seen him since and I've always found him to be a very nice man and very considerate.

"This appears to be quite out of character and he has done the right thing by apologising."

Shona Robison, Scottish National Party MSP for Dundee East, said: "Clearly someone in his position needs to be very careful about what he says, particularly in the current political climate.

"It was a deeply offensive comment but he has apologised and I hope he has learned from this mistake."