Monday 29 December 2024
By Bill Heaney
The number of road traffic police officers in Scotland has declined to a five-year low, according to research by the Scottish Conservatives.
Which means that the number of drinks and drugs-related driving offences are likely to be down overt the Hogmanay and New Year period.
New figures obtained by the Tories showed a nine per cent decline in the number of road officers since 2019-20.
As of June this year, only 518 road traffic officers were employed by Police Scotland, down from 567 five years ago.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said the numbers were “concerning”, especially since the number of people seriously injured in road accidents increased to 1,930 last year.
He added the new statistics were “yet more confirmation that the SNP are reducing police numbers across Scotland.”
The number of officers in Scotland stands at their lowest level since 2008.
Liam Kerr MSP, pictured left, said: “Sustained cuts from the SNP mean the number of dedicated road traffic officers have continued to decline.
“This is yet more confirmation that the SNP are reducing police numbers across Scotland, with overall officer numbers at their lowest level since 2008.
“The reduction in road traffic officers is concerning as the cuts come against a backdrop of almost 2,000 people being seriously injured on Scotland’s roads last year.
“SNP ministers need to stop cutting the police budget. They must show some common sense and ensure they provide the funding needed to increase the number of road traffic officers, otherwise lives will continue to be put at risk.”
Notes:
The number of road traffic officers on Scotland’s roads is at a five-year low. In 2024/25 (up to June), there have only been 518 FTE officers employed as road traffic officers, down 8.8% on 2019/20, when there were 567.7 officers employed. (Scottish Conservative FOI, 13 November 2024, available on request).
There were 5,788 road casualties reported in 2023. Of these, there were 155 fatalities, 1,930 people were seriously injured (up 9% on the previous year) and 3,703 people were slightly injured (up 1%). (Key Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2023, 29 May 2024, link).