Building a Better Scotland
CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE
To provide an independent, modern prosecution service, which is committed to professional excellence, pursues cases fairly and consistently in the public interest and is responsive to the public's needs.
Objective 1 | | To secure the confidence of all sections of the community in the prosecution system by improving the delivery of justice through the timely, efficient and effective prosecution of crime. |
Target | 1 | 60% of Sheriff Summary and District Court cases disposed of within 26 weeks of the date of caution and charge by March 2008. [Joint target with Justice portfolio.] |
Target | 2 | To implement agreed recommendations of COPFS Inspectorate's review of the prosecution of racial crime by March 2006 and other agreed recommendations of COPFS Inspectorate's reviews within two years of such agreement. |
Objective 2 | | To give priority to the prosecution of serious crime, including drugs trafficking and crimes committed by persistent offenders. |
Target | 3 | Serve indictments in 80% of Sheriff and jury cases that involve bail within eight months of first appearance on petition by March 2008. |
Target | 4 | To serve all High Court indictments that involve bail within 10 months of first appearance on petition and 80% within nine months of first appearance on petition by March 2008. |
Target | 5 | In partnership with Justice portfolio, reduce by 10% the level of High Court trial diet adjournments by March 2008. |
Objective 3 | | To provide services which meet the information needs of victims, witnesses and next-of-kin, in co-operation with other agencies. |
Target | 6 | To communicate court bail decisions within 24 hours to 90% of victims in cases in which the accused has appeared from custody by March 2008. |
Objective 4 | | To ensure that all deaths reported to the Procurator Fiscal are investigated appropriately and speedily. |
Target | 7 | In deaths which require further investigation, to conclude investigation and advise next-of-kin of outcome within 12 weeks in 80% of cases by March 2008. |
What we will do
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland and the investigation of sudden or suspicious deaths and complaints against the police. The portfolio works closely with its criminal justice partners to help to make Scotland a safer place. It 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 more responsive. The core values of the department are impartiality, integrity, sensitivity, respect and professionalism.
The portfolio is committed to ensuring that we create the necessary climate and confidence through prosecuting crime to grow the economy, promote equality and close the opportunity gap, and to ensure that environmental crime is prosecuted. The cross-cutting chapters earlier in this document provide more detailed information on the Executive's work in these areas.
Over the Spending Review period our main strategic priorities will be:
- prosecuting serious crime - making sure that serious crime is prosecuted in a timely and efficient manner;
- delivering reform and improving efficiency;
- securing public confidence in the criminal justice system and serving communities - improving people's quality of life (e.g. better prosecution of environmental crime); and
- providing support and being responsive - to the needs of the victims of crime, next-of-kin and vulnerable witnesses.
That is why we will:
- focus resources on serious crime and complex cases whilst ensuring the effective prosecution of summary business;
- continue rolling out the Victim Information and Advice service across Scotland;
- provide funding (0.1m) for the training of prosecutors in dealing with environmental and wildlife crime;
- provide additional resources (0.6m each year from 2006-07) for our Civil Recovery Unit to support proceedings through the civil courts to recover assets financed by the proceeds of crime;
- invest in forensic pathology (0.5m each year from 2006-07) to support and secure the long-term delivery of this service; and
- continue to invest in the modernisation (4.2/3.5/2.5m) of the prosecution service to improve productivity and work with our criminal justice partners to deliver reform, including additional capital expenditure on information communication technology and a major refurbishment of the department's Glasgow office.
As part of the Efficient Government initiative we will achieve annual savings through the introduction of new technology, a rationalisation of the department's Edinburgh estate, the reform of sheriff and jury sentencing powers, improved procedures for citing witnesses and a wider range of alternatives to prosecution. Full details will be included in the Executive's Efficient Government plan which will be published in the autumn.
Table 4.01 Spending plans 2004-08 (level 3)
m | 2004-05 Plans | 2005-06 Plans | 2006-07 Plans | 2007-08 Plans |
Solemn | 34.99 | 36.02 | 37.70 | 39.02 |
Summary | 32.42 | 33.36 | 34.91 | 36.14 |
Victim information and advice | 1.40 | 1.50 | 1.60 | 1.75 |
Investigation of deaths | 3.88 | 4.10 | 4.05 | 3.96 |
Complaints against police | 0.36 | 0.38 | 0.37 | 0.37 |
Non-court | 12.67 | 14.14 | 14.37 | 14.26 |
Capital | 3.43 | 4.00 | 7.00 | 6.00 |
Total | 89.15 | 93.50 | 100.00 | 101.50 |
Note: The level 3 allocations are based on forecast workload units for solemn, summary, investigation of deaths, complaints against police and non-court business. The sums detailed for capital spend and victim information and advice reflect planned expenditure.