Almost £3.4 billion will be invested across the justice system in
2023-24 to fund vital front-line services, provide continued
support for victims and witnesses, and to tackle the causes of
offending.
Underlining the Scottish Budget’s priority to support sustainable
public services despite the cost-of-living crisis, the funding
represents an increase of £165 million or a 5.8% increase on this
year’s justice resource budget.
Recognising the crucial role Police Scotland officers and staff
play keeping our communities safe, the service will receive
substantial additional resource funding of £80 million in the
next financial year, a 6.3% increase. Police capital funding has
been maintained at £45.5 million for investment in assets
including the estate, fleet and technology. This brings the
policing budget to £1.45 billion for 2023-24.
Equal access to justice for all is a key priority for the
Scottish Government, with an additional £3 million
allocated in the budget to safeguard Legal Aid, and £3
million to strengthen access to Justice, to benefit deprived
communities and vulnerable groups.
Funding of more than £42 million will be maintained to continue
to reduce the backlog of court cases built up during the COVID-19
period and for community justice services, including alternatives
to remand. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will receive a
£10 million increase to support service delivery and the Scottish
Prison Service gets an additional £29 million to support a modern
and safe prison system.
Justice Secretary said:
“This Budget will support vital front-line services, provide
support for victims and witnesses, and allow us to tackle the
underlying drivers of offending.
“Our investment in policing has helped deliver historically low
recorded crime rates, we have more police officers per head of
population than England and Wales and new officers here start on
significantly higher salaries that those in the rest of the UK.
“The further increase of £80 million to police budgets next
year builds on this solid track record to keep our communities
safe.
“In this difficult financial landscape it is prudent we bring
absolute focus to our key priorities which is why this Budget
also continues essential funding to provide emotional and
practical support for victims, while safeguarding Legal Aid and
equal access to justice both now and into the future.
“Across the whole justice sector, this Budget will support
delivery of our transformative reforms in a low crime environment
where people feel safe.”
Background
The Justice Budget is part of a wider package of financial
support presented to the Scottish Parliament on
Thursday, 15 December by Deputy First Minister .
The extra investment in Justice also includes:
- An additional £80 million resource for the Scottish Police
Authority, which provides safety and security for communities
across Scotland.
- Police core capital funding has been maintained at £45.5
million for investment in the police asset base including its
greening the fleet programme.
- Additional revenue spending of £29 million in the Scottish
prison Service and continuing investment in the modernisation of
the prison estate, with £97 million in capital funding provided.
- Total investment of £134 million in community justice
services, which includes the continuation of an additional
investment of £15 million from 2022-23 to support recovery
efforts, bolster capacity, and strengthen alternatives to remand
by improving and increasing the use of bail services.
- The Scottish Government will provide an additional £5 million
resource and £4.7 million capital for the Scottish Courts and
Tribunals Service. This will help to meet pay and inflation
pressures, and to support essential capital repair and
replacement works.
- £4.2 million is being invested in Legal Aid, alongside £3
million to strengthen access to justice, including in deprived
communities and for vulnerable groups.
- £3.5 million is being invested this year in the continued
delivery of the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability programme
which will allow evidence to be shared digitally from crime scene
to court room, significantly improving efficiency in the
investigation and prosecution of crime.
- Continuation of the £48 million over 3-year funding support
for victims’ organisations across Scotland, through the Victim
Centred Approach Fund.
