Finance

The Safety Camera Programme budget for 2022/23 was £7.1m, with grant funding provided by Scottish Ministers. Additional funding was also received in relation to the HADECS camera system. The funding arrangements for the provision of grant to Police Scotland (through the Scottish Police Authority) worked well throughout the reporting year.

Programme expenditure for 2022/23 and actual Police Scotland spend is set out at Annex B. The final closing balance for 2022/23 was £22,022.

Whilst all services were maintained during 2022/23, additional funding would enable the Programme to manage an increasing maintenance liability and upgrade life expired technology. This is particularly evident from supplier engagement on both maintenance and the red light enforcement procurement process where increasing use of radar technology and a move away from 3G are suggesting more efficient and lower cost maintenance options are becoming more mainstream.

Conclusions

To ensure the Programme has an appropriate budget level which enables it to maximise its collision and casualty reduction potential, and help Scotland achieve its overarching road safety targets, a real terms increase in budget should be the focus for 2023/24.