Police Scotland are still using a vehicle that is 28 years old, new data has revealed.



The force’s fleet of vehicles includes 95 that are more than a decade old, while 1,006 are five to 10 years old, according to information obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Data they obtained through a Freedom of Information request showed that the oldest police vehicle was bought in 1989 and about a third of the 3,319 vehicles in the fleet are more than five years old.

Police Scotland said all its vehicles are assessed for suitability and reliability and are all maintained to a strict high standard.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Liam McArthur said the Scottish government must ensure the force can afford the vehicles it needs.

“Earlier this year Scottish Liberal Democrats revealed that it will cost Police Scotland more than a quarter of a billion pounds to maintain the crumbling police estate over the next 10 years,” he said.

“However, it is not just buildings that are under strain. Officers and staff do a fantastic job keeping our communities safe in often tough circumstances but the SNP’s botched centralisation continues to undermine their efforts as projected savings have not been realised.”

Police Scotland said it is investing heavily in modernising the current fleet, which was inherited from legacy forces.

“In the current year we have spent £5.6m and replaced 252 vehicles and in the next financial year we are due to replace 290 vehicles which has seen the age profile since the creation of Police Scotland in April 2013 reduce from 6.34 years to 4.75 years in 2017-18,” a spokesman said.

It is understood the oldest vehicle on the fleet is held for specific and specialist operational purpose, and it is cheaper for police to maintain it rather than buy a new one simply because of its age.

“Clearly Police Scotland is best-placed to determine how and when they replace police cars to support their vital work pursuing offenders and keeping crime down and communities safe,” a Scottish government spokesman said.

“As well as protecting the annual core policing budget of over £1.1bn – delivering a boost of £100m by 2021 – and a continuation of police reform funding, we are also increasing the amount available for capital expenditure by 15% to £23m in 2018-19.”