Footnotes
1. In 2005, as part of Summary Justice Reform, plans were announced to reform summary criminal justice and unify the administration of Sheriff and District Courts. Justice of the Peace Courts have been created by the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007. They are replacing District Courts on a phased basis and are administered by the Scottish Court Service. As each Sheriffdom undergoes the unification process, District Courts will be disestablished and Justice of the Peace Courts established in their place. In most cases the location of the court will remain unchanged. (Extract from Scottish Court Service website)
2. Not included - 10 further staff at Dingwall and Tain who perform work for Glasgow and Lothian and Borders
3. Staffing as at 29/07/08 provided by HR:AF = Area Fiscal, ABM = Area Business Manager, DF = District Fiscal, PD = Principal Depute, SPFD = Senior Procurator Fiscal Depute, PFD = Procurator Fiscal Depute, TS = Trainee Solicitor, OM = Office Manager, SM = Section Manager, PO = Precognition Officer, FO = Fiscal Officer, PA = Personal Assistant, VIA = Victim Information and Advice
4. Extracted 17 June 2008
5. The Public Interest - the decision whether to take proceedings and the nature of any proceedings will be determined by the Procurator Fiscal's assessment of the public interest. The Procurator Fiscal will have regard to the whole circumstances including the gravity of the offence. He will also take into account the interests of the victim, and the effect of prosecution on the accused and the local community or general public opinion.
6. 'No Pros' figures taken from Appendix 1, Table 9
7. 'Reported Cases Received' figures taken from Appendix 1, Table 1
8. 'Warnings' figures taken from Appendix 1, Table 9
9. 'Reported cases received figures taken from Appendix 1, Table 1
10. Where further information now provided which amounts either to a complete defence or to a substantial plea in mitigation…such that it is no longer appropriate to prosecute in court
11. COPFS Book of Regulations Chapter 4
12. COPFS Strategic Plan 2006 - 08
13. Green status means achieved
14. Extracted 17 June 2008
15. Evidence is taken from the witness by a Commissioner appointed by the court, the evidence is video taped and no party to the case can, except by leave of the court, be present but are entitled by means as seem suitable to the court to watch and hear proceedings
16. Advice, Support, Safety and Information Services Together ( ASSIST) provides an independent advocacy service
17. MARAC is a multi-agency risk assessment which was pioneered in Cardiff. It combines risk assessment with a multi-agency approach to help very high risk victims of domestic abuse and it has established itself as a template for good practice.
18. For example, District Fiscals will inform the Area Team of pressure points
19. At the time of our visit to Inverness office the monthly rota covers Fort William - 5 days; Dingwall - 2 days; Tain - 4 days in addition to covering High Court, Leave and Training
20. Remit of this group was to 'identify options to provide enhanced roles for administrative and precognition staff'
21. Extract from Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Disability Equality Action Plan, December 2006-2009
22. Figures extracted 17 June 2008
23. FAI = Fatal Accident Inquiry
24. No Pro = No Proceedings
25. Cond Offer = Conditional Offer
26. Figures extracted 17 June 2008
27. No longer recorded
28. As part of the commitment to the Spending Review 2005/08 it is hoped that achievement will be 80% in 8 months by March 2008
29. This target changed to within 4 weeks with effect from 1 April 2007
30. Target under review
31. Target under review
32. Target deleted for 2007/08 - focus now on 'close 90% of cases within 12 weeks'
33. Figures extracted 17 June 2008
34. DI = Dingwall, FW = Fort William, IN = Inverness, LE = Lerwick, KW = Kirkwall, LO = Lochmaddy, PO = Portree, SW = Stornoway, TA = Tain, DO = Dornoch, WI = Wick
35. As part of a commitment to the Spending Review 2005/08 it is hoped that achievement will be 80% in 8 months by March 2008
36. This target changed to 'within 4 weeks' with effect from 1 April 2007
37. Target under review for 2007/08
38. Target under review for 2007/08