The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE

Portfolio Responsibilities

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service ( COPFS) provides Scotland's independent public prosecution and deaths investigation service. The Lord Advocate's position as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths is enshrined in the Scotland Act.

COPFS is the sole public prosecution authority in Scotland. It is responsible for making decisions about, and bringing prosecutions for, all criminal offences. COPFS also has the duty to investigate all sudden, suspicious or unexplained deaths and is responsible for deciding whether criminal proceedings or a Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held and for conducting such proceedings and inquiries. Responsibility for investigating complaints against the police, involving allegations of criminal conduct, rests with the Area Procurators Fiscal. Prosecution of police officers is undertaken on the instruction of Crown Counsel. COPFS National Casework Division and Civil Recovery Unit investigate and recover proceeds of drug trafficking and other serious crime. COPFS also provides a Victim Information and Advice Service across Scotland.

COPFS works closely with its criminal justice partners to help make Scotland a safer place and plays a pivotal role within the criminal justice system in maintaining the security and confidence of all communities of Scotland in the prosecution system, making the justice system more accessible and responsive. The core values of COPFS are impartiality, integrity, sensitivity, respect and professionalism.

Summary of Key Spending Priorities

The spending priorities for COPFS for 2009-10 are briefly described below:

• £52.7m for the prosecution of serious, complex and organised crime, whether in the High Court or before a Sheriff and jury, including the prosecution of terrorism, murder, serious assaults, sexual offences, drug and people trafficking, fraud and organised crime and the confiscation of proceeds of crime;
• £34.2m for the efficient and timely prosecution of summary casework, which comprises in numerical terms the large majority of the 330,000 crime reports submitted each year, including less serious offences and antisocial behaviour, prosecuted in the district (or Justice of the Peace), stipendiary magistrate's and Sheriff courts, without a jury;
• £4.3m for the investigation of deaths, which includes discharging the public function in investigating relevant categories of deaths promptly, appropriately and with sensitivity to the needs of the next of kin;
• £3.1m for Victim Information and Advice, supporting victims of crime and vulnerable witnesses involved in the resolution of cases; and
• capital expenditure of £6.7m which will complete the modernisation of the COPFS estate and improve the ICT system and increase case-processing efficiency.

Spending plans for 2009-10 are set out below.

Table 8.01: Detailed Spending Plans (Level 3)

Notes:
1. The prosecution of serious crime before a jury in the sheriff and High Courts.

2. The prosecution of less serious offences in the district (or Justice of the Peace), stipendiary magistrate's and sheriff courts, without a jury.

Table 8.02: Detailed Spending Plans (Level 3 real terms) at 2008-09 prices

Budget changes

There are no planned spending changes since the publication of the draft budget 2008-09.

« Previous | Contents | Next »