How many body-worn cameras are currently being used by Police Scotland officers; how much funding it has allocated to Police Scotland to pr…

Answered Asked by Jamie Greene Con Lodged 4 Nov 2021

The question

To ask the Scottish Government how many body-worn cameras are currently being used by Police Scotland officers; how much funding it has allocated to Police Scotland to procure or introduce such devices, and what plans are in place to increase (a) funding for and (b) the quantity of such devices.

The answer

Answered by Keith Brown on 19 Nov 2021 · 15 days after it was lodged, on time

Police Scotland have advised there are currently over 250 body worn cameras in use within North East Division. In addition, Police Scotland also equipped all armed police officers across Scotland who were deployed at COP26. A consultation on a wider roll-out of body worn cameras to all front line operational officers and staff closed in September and work is ongoing to consider a national introduction.
For 2021-22, the Scottish Government increased the policing budget by £75.5m to over £1.3bn and provided one off funding of £0.5m in 2021-22 to the SPA, to support the use of body-worn cameras. The allocation of resources is a matter for the SPA and the Chief Constable.
Funding for the policing budget for 2022-23 will be set out at the Scottish budget on 9 December.

In the Official Report

No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-04255 by reference.