Report Detail

Introduction
A comprehensive review of Police Scotland’s driver training programme has been undertaken, examining curriculum content, course duration and student / instructor ratios. The review identified areas where practice could be enhanced to align with the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 – Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving Prescribed Training) Regulations 2023. As the review progressed, there was a deeper analysis of the regulations and with the assistance of legal services, it became evident that Police Scotland required to enhance the programme.

In addition, this holistic review provided greater visibility of the demand for specialist courses such as Advanced Driving (ADC) and Tactical Phase of the Pursuit (TPP). These courses are delivered to both Roads and Armed Policing Officers and qualify them to drive high performance vehicles with emergency response privileges and engage in pursuits that are justified and proportionate.

Background: The Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 – Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving Prescribed Training) Regulations 2023 (hereafter referred to as the regulations).

The regulations came into force on 30th November 2022.

The purpose of the regulations is to

• Establish legally binding driver training standards.

• Enable a fairer legal comparator for police drivers (the law now judges a police officer driving against a careful and competent constable who has undertaken the same prescribed training rather that against the standard of a typical member of the public. This creates a fairer benchmark in post incident or court proceedings).

• Specify national training requirements and cycles (minimum instructor to trainee ratios and refresher intervals)

• Clarify delivery across UK jurisdictions.

• Ensure post-incident accountability and transparency.

The legislation focused on prescribing the length of each course and the teacher/student ratio, it did not provide or instruct content. Police Scotland’s course content is and always has been of a high standard, developed in line with best practice and operational requirements.

Based on information available from communication with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), Police Scotland understood that there was flexibility in the timescale for compliance with the regulations until 2025.

Subsequent clarification confirmed that the compliance position differed from the organisations earlier understanding and that the driver training programme should be enhanced.

The review identified that Police Scotland required to add the following courses to their programme.

• Initial Phase of the pursuit (IPP)
• Cat B Van and Cat D1 Vehicles (driven under response conditions)
• Escorting of vehicles (Abnormal loads, etc) (AL)

And

• Enhance the Security Escort Driving course (SED) by increasing its duration.

The following action has been taken to ensure compliance.

• A series of Force Memos were published rescinding affected officers’ authority to undertake the outlined driving disciplines until they received enhanced training.
• A targeted, delivery plan was developed to deliver the training required for using category B and D1 vehicles in response conditions. Delivery of this began in January 2026 and will run until March 2026.
• Training will also be delivered in relation to AL, SED and IPP to officers identified as requiring this specialism.
• An investment of permanent qualified resources.

Remaining Driver Training Courses

A review of the remaining police driver training courses confirms that they remain fully compliant with the regulations.

The Standard Response Driving Course (SRDC) is the most frequently delivered component of the programme qualifying officers to drive with emergency response privileges. While this course is a fundamental element of policing, not all officers require this skill immediately upon joining the service. SRDC is therefore delivered on a role basis, aligned to operational demand. Prior to this, Probationer Officers are trained in basic driving skills which provides a structured foundation for vehicle use in a policing context, allowing them to build confidence whilst progressing towards their SRDC.

The SRDC is prioritised based on several factors, including geographical location, meaning officers working in remote/rural areas are given precedence due to the unique demands of their operational environment. Allocation is flexible and carefully balanced with those working within urban environments.

Learning, Training and Development (LTD) are in regular contact with local policing to ensure the fair and proportionate allocation of courses depending on demand. This close coordination means resources are directed where they are needed most, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our communities. There are no operational concerns in relation to the delivery of this course, and Police Scotland remains fully able to provide an effective, responsive and resilient service. Our approach ensures that the needs of local communities are consistently met and that public safety remains out highest priority.

Summary of Training Requirements and average annual capacity.

The following table is a summary of the current training requirements and our average annual capacity to deliver training with pre-existing resource compared to the additional resources.

Current Delivery Plan

A targeted, delivery plan was developed to deliver the training required for using category B and D1 vehicles in response conditions. Delivery of this began in January 2026 and will run until March 2026.

The additional qualified instructors will allow both ADC and TPP to be taught simultaneously, maximising training capacity. The following tables show the increased capacity for a 6-month period (February 2026 – July 2026).

The SRDC capacity remains stable as this is delivered by other instructors based in our 10 training bases.

Driver Training Strategic Oversight Group (SOG)

A Strategic Oversight Group has been created to provide governance and strategic direction to ensure training courses align with operational requirements and are legislatively compliant.

In overseeing driver training delivery, the SOG is factoring in both current and forecasted demand to inform strategic planning and decision-making. This includes reviewing capacity constraints, prioritising resources, and exploring scalable solutions to maintain training throughout.

Police Scotland continues to liaise with the Scottish and UK Governments, National Police Chiefs Council, Department of Transport and College of Policing to ensure the needs of Police Scotland are considered in any future proposals which will impact on the ability of Police Scotland to deliver a service to the public.

Legal and Health and Safety colleagues are represented within the group to ensure that all training activities and operational decisions align with legislation, safety regulations and risk management standards.

Conclusion

The driver training programme delivers the highest standard of professional training to operational officers, directly enhancing Police Scotland’s ability to protect and serve local communities.

The gaps in our understanding of specific aspects of the regulations have now been clarified and action taken to achieve compliance.

The addition of full time, permanent resources has increased the spaces available on both ADC and TPP addressing demand in these specialist areas.

With robust strategic oversight and ongoing review, the programme is responsive to evolving operational demands and legislative requirements. This ensures that key stakeholders remain focused on continuous improvement, driving forward effective solutions to address current and future training challenges.

In doing so, Police Scotland reinforces its commitment to maintain public confidence, prioritising communities’ safety, and delivering an agile, resilient service cross Scotland.