This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New District Fiscals commissioned
04/11/2002
New district fiscals for the Crown Office and Procurator
Fiscal Service today received their commissions from
Scotland's senior Law Officer, the Lord Advocate, Colin
Boyd QC.
District fiscals hold a commission for a named sheriff
court district and will act as the personal representative
of the Lord Advocate on a day-to-day basis in relation to
the investigation and prosecution of crime and the
investigation of sudden, suspicious and unexplained
deaths.
They will work closely with area procurators fiscal who
have full management and budgetary responsibility for the
area.
District fiscals receiving their commission today and
taking up their posts are:
- Ruth McQuaid - Stirling and Alloa
- Jim Robertson - Kirkcaldy
- John Service - Dumfries
Colin Boyd said:
"We are committed to increasing frontline resources to
ensure that the public receive the standards of service
they have a right to expect.
"District fiscals are key to this modernisation and
along with the dedicated and professional staff in their
office, they will liase closely with the local police and
courts to help fulfil our commitment for local delivery of
best service and values.
"The department has secured a significant increase in
funding to see this through. Our budget for 2002-03 has
been increased from £62m to £78m. We have also appointed
26 new legal members of staff with more being
recruited."
Biographies
Ruth McQuaid has been with the department
since 1990 when she began as a Crown Office trainee. Since
then she has worked in Hamilton and Edinburgh offices.
During her time at Edinburgh, she served as Assistant
Procurator Fiscal for five months, before moving back to
Hamilton.
Jim Robertson has been with the department
since 1989. During this time he has served at the Lanark
and Hamilton offices. Jim has been acting district fiscal
at Stranraer since April 2002.
John Service joined the Crown Office and
Procurator Fiscal Service in 1984. He has served at the
Paisley and Glasgow Offices, and most recently was part of
Crown Office's race team, where he has contributed to
policy in this important field.
The Pryce-Dyer Management Review of the Crown Office and
Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), published on March 4,
2002, presented different options for the number and size
of areas for the COPFS.
After consultation it was decided to implement the
structure based on 11 areas. Seven areas (Central, Fife,
Tayside, Grampian, Lothian & Borders, Dumfries &
Galloway, Highland & Islands) match the boundaries of
the corresponding police force areas). There are 4 areas
within the force area of Strathclyde Police - Lanarkshire,
Glasgow, Argyll & Clyde and Ayrshire).
A map of the boundaries is available from the Crown
Office press office or can be downloaded from the website
at
www.crownoffice.gov.uk