This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Plan Alpha launched for Glasgow
10/03/2003
Plan Alpha, the creation of four dedicated teams of prosecutors within the Glasgow procurator fiscal service, was launched today.
Each team corresponds with a different division of Strathclyde Police, focusing solely on crimes handled by that police division.
The intention is to allow prosecutors to work more closely with local police and local communities, targeting local criminals and ultimately improving the effective prosecution of crime throughout the city.
The Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC today praised the innovation of Glasgow's prosecutors in creating 4 local divisions to tackle crime in Glasgow, as he visited the Procurator Fiscal office in Ballater Street to officially launch 'Plan Alpha'.
On a visit to the fiscal's office in Ballater Street, Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC said:
"A year ago, following a wide-ranging management review of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, I promised to make the necessary changes - whether structural, managerial or cultural - to enable us to deliver a more focused, modern prosecution service.
"This initiative is an excellent example of how partnership, and new ways of working internally, can bring real benefits for victims of crime.
"The new divisional structure means we can deliver a prosecution service that is much more closely tailored and responsive to the particular needs and circumstances of local communities: bad news for Glasgow criminals and good news for Glasgow communities".
"This is a milestone in the modernisation of the Scottish prosecution service. The Strathclyde Police force area is the biggest in Scotland, with nearly 25% of all reported crimes in Scotland being dealt with by the Glasgow Procurator Fiscal's office.
"This has been a tough nut to crack, made easier by the cooperation and help of the courts and their officials, so I am particularly pleased that, since Plan Alpha went live in January this year, we are already seeing real benefits. We have closer liaison with the police, and as a result, can respond more effectively to specific crime problems in local communities."
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) recognises that good liaison between the police and procurators fiscal is essential. Plan Alpha is specifically designed to meet the needs of the Glasgow area.
Elsewhere in Scotland the new area structure introduced by the Lord Advocate last year continues to enable better and more regular communication and liaison.
Assistant Chief Constable (Crime) Graeme Pearson commented:
"These changes are welcomed by Strathclyde Police. Even at this early stage, we are witnessing significant benefits, which accrue from Plan Alpha. The enhanced liaison that now exists between police and designated procurators fiscal is a powerful device which assists in identifying and dealing with those who present the biggest threat or nuisance to our communities"
The new arrangements see the fiscal's central area corresponds to the Strathclyde Police A division; the north-west to C division; the east to E division; and the south to G division.
Strathclyde Police has nine divisions:
A Division encompasses the city centre of Glasgow and the residential areas of Cranstonhill and Partick in the west. The city centre is the regional centre of West Central Scotland for employment, shopping, entertainment and tourism and more than 250,000 people pass through the Division every day. It has a population of around 97,000 people.
C Division is located within the council areas of the City of Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire. Familiar place names found within its boundaries include Maryhill, Drumchapel, Kirkintilloch and Milngavie. There is a high-mix of high-density housing, rural and semi-rural areas. It has a population of 260,000 people - the equivalent of many medium sized European cities.
E Division covers the East End of Glasgow from Springburn in the North to Dalmarnock in the South and as far as Baillieston and Easterhouse in the East. It is home to Celtic Park, Scotland's largest football stadium where up to 60,000 fans converge every second week. It has a population of 172,500 people.
G Division is on the south side of Glasgow and extends into East Renfrewshire. It boasts both Ibrox Stadium, home of Glasgow Rangers FC and the National Stadium home of the Scottish football team. It has a population of 324,000 people and has more police officers covering the vast area than many UK Forces have in total.
K - Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
L - Clydebank, Dunbartonshire and Argyll
N - North Lanarkshire
Q - South Lanarkshire
U - Ayrshire
An Assistant Procurator Fiscal, leading a team of 50 to 80 staff, heads each of the Glasgow divisions.