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Scotland hosts Eurojust seminar
09/12/2002
Prosecutors from across Europe today come together in
Scotland with other criminal justice agencies to share
experience and best practice in the fight against
international crime.
Representatives from the Crown Office and Procurator
Fiscal Service, the Association of Chief Police Officers
Scotland, the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency and Customs
and Excise will hold a joint seminar with European
prosecutors to discuss better co-operation and
co-ordination between Scotland and Europe over serious
crime.
Speakers at the event, to be held in Tulliallan Police
College, include Mike Kennedy, president of Eurojust, an
EU-wide organisation comprising of prosecutors, magistrates
and judge who work together to develop and encourage
practical co-operation.
Eurojust colleagues from Sweden and the Netherlands will
also contribute to the event.
The Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC will welcome
participants to the event, saying:
"International crime is an increasing phenomenon of our
time and it is crucial that the international justice
system develops accordingly. Events like this promote the
level of co-operation and understanding needed to deal with
both the crimes and criminals that cross borders."
This seminar follows the Lord Advocate's announcement
last month that a prosecutor from Scotland would join the
Eurojust team.
Ann Den Bieman, an experienced prosecutor with the
COPFS, has been seconded to Eurojust as one of three
UK representatives.
Eurojust was established in its permanent form on March
6, 2002. It will operate from Le Hague from December 10,
2002.
The COPFS currently has an experienced Principal
Procurator Fiscal Depute who is fluent in Italian serving
as a liaison magistrate in Rome.