A senior politician has questioned a move by Police Scotland to take on more powers, saying it could make it even more difficult for the service to do its job.
The single force has taken on control of Scotland’s Safety Camera Partnership.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said: “One of my greatest fears of creating a single police force is that senior management would appropriate more powers to the centre at the expense of local communities.
“It will only heap further pressure on Police Scotland, which is already struggling to deliver adequate support to centralised frontline services.
“Safety camera partnerships have played an important role in preventing and reducing road traffic accidents.
“Working across local public bodies has enabled information to be shared quickly and effectively.
“Removing this service from local hands could also remove the local understanding of where resources are needed.”
The Safety Camera Partnership receives £4.4 million from the Scottish Government.
It deploys vans to collision hotspots in an effort to deter speeding drivers and reduce casualties on the road.
A review of the formerly Transport Scotland-led partnership, carried out earlier this year and involving a number of public bodies, recommended a merger of the eight partnerships into three under the sole control of Police Scotland.
Mr Rennie added: “I hope the SNP justice secretary has sought assurances over the impact this could have on local roads.
“If this results in resources being diverted away from the area people will want answers.”
A police spokesman said the speed deterrent cameras will remain on the roads and could also be used to support wider policing operations “in exceptional circumstances”.
He would not say how many of the current 100-plus members of staff operating the system would be retained or how many of the vans are presently at their disposal for fear it would “adversely affect police operations”.
In response to Mr Rennie’s comments, a Police Scotland spokesman said: “This decision was put out to full public consultation and was not a conclusion reached by Police Scotland alone.
“Local policing is at the heart of Police Scotland and the creation of a single policing service has allowed us to create a demand-led policing service that protects and enhances local policing for our communities.
“It also provides equal access to specialist resources, whether that is specialist police officers or equipment, no matter where or when the demand.”