This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New prosecution guidance
25/11/2002
Revised guidance to ensure that diverse crimes from
benefit fraud to environmental offences are prosecuted
quickly and effectively has been published today for
agencies reporting crimes to the Crown Office and
Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
The guide, now in its fifth edition, explains all
aspects of reporting offences to the proc?rator fiscal,
including:
- how crime is prosecuted in Scotland
- how to prepare reports for the procurator
fiscal
- and court procedure
COPFS receives reports from more than 70 specialist
non-police reporting agencies, including the Scottish
Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), HM Customs and
Excise and trading standards departments.
A COPFS seminar to improve the reporting and prosecution
of crime was held in Edinburgh today. Welcoming over 150
agency representatives the Solicitor General, Elish
Angiolini QC, said:
"We are all too aware of the impact of crime on the
lives of Scottish people. By promoting a deeper
understanding of the role of the procurator fiscal and
combining the knowledge and experience of Scotland's
prosecutors with the specialist agencies, we can ensure
that all crimes are dealt with efficiently and
appropriately."
The COPFS is committed to professional excellence and
improving working practises in close co-operation with its
agency partners.
COPFS receives reports from over 70 bodies other than
the police including:
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency
- NHS Fraud Investigation Unit
- SEPA
- Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals
- Scottish local authorities