This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New fiscal depute for Northern Isles
23/01/2003
A full time Procurator Fiscal Depute is to be appointed
for the Northern Isles following a review of prosecution
arrangements in Orkney and Shetland.
The new post will be stationed in Lerwick to assist Sue
Foard, the Procurator Fiscal for Kirkwall and Lerwick, who
presently requires to cover both court districts.
It will be on a pilot basis, likely to be for 18 months
in the first instance, with the arrangements being reviewed
at the end of that period.
Lord Advocate Colin Boyd said:
"This is an important appointment which enhances the
resources available, not only to the Northern Isles, but to
the Highland and Islands as a whole.
"The additional resources will provide greater
flexibility and ensure that the local communities in Orkney
and Shetland receive the standards of service they have a
right to expect."
The post is currently being advertised within the Crown
Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
The Highland and Islands area recently saw the
appointment of Andrew Laing, District Procurator Fiscal
at Inverness, and Gordon Ellis, Area Business Manager, who
took up post in December 2002.
Other recent appointments are Robert Smart, Area
Precognition Officer, and Stella Swan, Area Principal
Depute Procurator Fiscal.
Sue Foard will continue to hold the appointment of
Procurator Fiscal at Lerwick, but will in future be largely
based at Kirkwall.
The depute will hold a commission for Lerwick Sheriff
court district and will be responsible for the
investigation and prosecution of crime and the
investigation of sudden, suspicious and unexplained
deaths.