Police Scotland using ancient motors - with one vehicle 20 years old

dailyrecord.co.uk:

More than a quarter of Police Scotland vehicles are between five to 10 years old with one as old as 20, according to new statistics.Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show the nation-wide force has 174 (seven per cent) cars that are more than 10 years old.Statistics also revealed that 699 (28 per cent) vehicles in Police Scotland's livery are between five and 10 years old.Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, hit out saying vehicles were "not the place to cut corners".Earlier this year the Scottish Government announced there would be a slight rise in public spending for the justice system over the next four financial years.

However, if the current rate of inflation carries on then it would represent a real-terms cut to spending in the sector from 2023 to 2027.Carmichael added: "Of course the police need to maximise their resources, but their fleets are not the place to cut corners.

To ensure crucial parts of their jobs, like high-speed chases, are safe, the police should be using modern, fit-for-purpose vehicles, not cars older than the people driving them."Our police forces do a fantastic job 24/7, especially around the festive season, keeping our communities and families safe."But this Conservative Government has run their budgets into the ground, squeezing them on from every angle and making it harder to do their jobs effectively."Police must have their budgets restored and the Government must ensure each force has access to equipment that is state of the art and can function exactly as required in an emergency."Under the provisional settlement, the Home Office said forces will receive an additional £287 million in cash terms from central government in 2023-24.I