Police escorts for Highland wind farm loads soar as road officers stretched

New figures show there were 11 times as many wind farm Special Order movements in the Highlands in the last two financial years as in the previous five, raising concerns about the pressure on Police Scotland’s resources.

A series of Freedom of Information from the Scottish Liberal Democrats requests shows there were 313 wind farm Special Order movements in 2024/25 and 2025/26, up from 27 across the previous five years.

Police Scotland’s road policing units have to escort such loads through often narrow Highland roads, towns and villages which places a an ever-growing burden not just on scarce resources but on the ultimate cost of the deployment.

The Freedom of Information responses show the Highland Council approved 340 Special Order movements for wind farm infrastructure between 2019/20 and 2025/26.

Special Orders cover only the biggest loads, such as those over 6.1 metres wide, 30 metres in rigid length or 150 tonnes gross weight, so the total number of wind-related abnormal loads is higher still.

Police Scotland separately identified 160 escorts as wind farm related over the same period. Its records also show seven consecutive weeks of three-officer escort cover at Invergordon between 20 July and 4 September this year, each recorded as "invoice not raised".

While the delay could be a backlog, the gap raises questions on how efficiently and thoroughly these costs are being recovered. 

Scotland is the only part of the UK where abnormal loads must be escorted by police officers. In England and Wales the role is carried out by National Highways. Escorts are treated as additional overtime work, often carried out at evenings, weekends or on rest days, and firms are being quoted waiting times of six to eight months.

In November 2024, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland warned that escort demand was affecting Police Scotland's ability to keep people safe on the roads, describing the routine use of trained road officers to support private haulage as "untenable". Analysis for Scottish Renewables projects that demand could peak at more than 7,300 abnormal loads in 2029, almost three times current capacity.

In July, the Scottish Government acknowledged "continued pressures" on Police Scotland's ability to support abnormal load movements for the energy industry, and said the legislation requiring police escorts is reserved to Westminster. 

With demand rising and road policing already under strain, the question is whether Police Scotland has the officers to match the pace of the rollout without cutting into its core duties.

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP David Green said:

“The Highlands are doing the heavy lifting on Scotland’s energy transition. 

"The components coming through Invergordon and Nigg bring jobs and investment to the north, and I want that to continue.

“But movements of the largest loads have risen and each one relies on multiple police officers. With demand set to grow further, there are concerns about whether police resources can keep pace.

“The Scottish and UK governments must work together on a long-term fix that both takes the pressure off Police Scotland while protecting jobs, growth and investment across the Highlands.”