Finance

The Safety Camera Programme budget for 2023/24 was £7.081m, 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 2023/24 and actual Police Scotland spend is set out at Annex B. The final closing balance for 2023/24 was £0.

Whilst all services were maintained during 2023/24, recent procurements and changes in technology have suggested significant investment is likely to prove beneficial to enhancing the fixed assets which are core to delivering on the Programme’s aims. Much of the equipment, although well-maintained will be coming to the end of its life-cycle over the next decade. Moving towards more flexible, easier to deploy fixed technology would provide the programme with the capability to respond to emerging enforcement challenges, whilst complementing traditional road policing. Advances in technology appear to be moving at a pace and all those vested with responsibility within the programme should continue to monitor opportunities arising from that technology.

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 2024/25.