FOI 26-135 Vandalism Against Service Vehicles
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 26-135 Vandalism Against Service Vehicles
- Request Date
- 09 Mar 2026
- Response Date
- 12 Mar 2026
- Information Requested
For each of the following calendar years respectively 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021
- How many acts of vandalism on ambulance vehicles and rapid response vehicles have been recorded?
- Can you please list details of these examples?
- How much was the total cost each year in repairs to damage caused by acts of vandalism?
- Were any of your vehicles off the road for repairs and how long were they unavailable for use?
- Were any members of staff injured during acts of vandalism towards your vehicles – and if so please least any details you are able to?
- Response
Please see the table below detailing the total reported acts of vandalism of Scottish Ambulance Service vehicles for each year requested.
Year
Incidents
Total repair cost
2021
0
£0
2022
1
£0
2023
1
£0
2024
3
£0
2025
5
£4,012.73
The Scottish Ambulance Service holds narrative descriptions of individual incidents for insurance and operational purposes. These records frequently contain personal data relating to patients or members of the public, as well as operational and security‑sensitive information. Below is a high-level summary of incidents:
- Damage to a vehicle resulting from attempted unauthorised access
- Damage caused to external vehicle equipment by a member of the public
- Incidents involving damage to vehicles caused by patients or unknown persons while vehicles were parked or stationary
- Incidents involving deliberate damage to vehicles by patients or members of the public, including impact damage to vehicle windows or bodywork
Information identifying whether vehicles were taken off the road, or the length of any unavailability, specifically as a result of vandalism is not held. Determining this would require bespoke analysis across multiple systems and the application of complex skill and judgement. The Scottish Ambulance Service is not required under FOISA to create new information. It is for this reason we have applied section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 as information not held.
There were no staff injuries reported in connection with acts of vandalism towards Scottish Ambulance Service vehicles during the period requested.
