Thematic inspection of road policing in Scotland

Recommendation 1

Police Scotland should review its commitment to and investment in its road policing function, to ensure it is effectively supporting Scotland’s Road Safety Framework and that road crime is being actively addressed.

Recommendation 2

Police Scotland should take urgent steps to address the backlog in specialist driver training.

Recommendation 3

Police Scotland should review its policy position, and the training and equipment provided, for local policing officers responding to incidents on the fast road networks.

Recommendation 4

Police Scotland should engage with its criminal justice partners to explore options (including virtual appearances) to reduce the time requirement for officers attending court.

Recommendation 5

Police Scotland should engage with Scottish Government to progress a legislative change that will allow the escorting of abnormal loads in Scotland to be carried out by another agency.

Recommendation 6

Police Scotland should progress the implementation of a road policing performance framework that provides an indication of progress towards achieving the targets set out in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030.

Recommendation 7

Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority should create and implement a joint action plan to identify and address the risk posed by drug driving.

Recommendation 8

Police Scotland should implement a process to ensure vehicles are equipped in a consistent manner. The views of officers who will be using the vehicles should be taken into account when considering the type of equipment to be fitted, and how and where it is fitted.

Recommendation 9

Police Scotland should identify and adopt best practice in the deployment and use of ANPR.

Recommendation 10

Police Scotland should progress the facility for members of the public to report road traffic offences by directly uploading journey-cam footage.

Recommendation 11

Police Scotland should review its intelligence and analytical commitment in relation to road safety and road crime, to improve focus on these areas.

Recommendation 12

Police Scotland should engage with UK Road Offender Education and other key stakeholders to progress the full implementation of educational training courses for people who commit driving offences that may be appropriately addressed through learning.

Recommendation 13

Police Scotland should review its policy on the deployment of family liaison officers, to ensure a consistent level of service to people who have been bereaved following a fatal collision.