This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Plan Alpha launched for Glasgow
10/03/2003
Plan Alpha, the creation of four dedicated teams of
prosecutors within the Glasgow procurator fiscal service,
was launched today.
Each team corresponds with a different division of
Strathclyde Police, focusing solely on crimes handled by
that police division.
The intention is to allow prosecutors to work more
closely with local police and local communities, targeting
local criminals and ultimately improving the effective
prosecution of crime throughout the city.
The Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC today praised the
innovation of Glasgow's prosecutors in creating 4 local
divisions to tackle crime in Glasgow, as he visited the
Procurator Fiscal office in Ballater Street to officially
launch 'Plan Alpha'.
On a visit to the fiscal's office in Ballater Street,
Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC said:
"A year ago, following a wide-ranging management review
of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, I
promised to make the necessary changes - whether
structural, managerial or cultural - to enable us to
deliver a more focused, modern prosecution service.
"This initiative is an excellent example of how
partnership, and new ways of working internally, can bring
real benefits for victims of crime.
"The new divisional structure means we can deliver a
prosecution service that is much more closely tailored and
responsive to the particular needs and circumstances of
local communities: bad news for Glasgow criminals and good
news for Glasgow communities".
"This is a milestone in the modernisation of the
Scottish prosecution service. The Strathclyde Police force
area is the biggest in Scotland, with nearly 25% of all
reported crimes in Scotland being dealt with by the Glasgow
Procurator Fiscal's office.
"This has been a tough nut to crack, made easier by the
cooperation and help of the courts and their officials, so
I am particularly pleased that, since Plan Alpha went live
in January this year, we are already seeing real benefits.
We have closer liaison with the police, and as a result,
can respond more effectively to specific crime problems in
local communities."
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
recognises that good liaison between the police and
procurators fiscal is essential. Plan Alpha is specifically
designed to meet the needs of the Glasgow area.
Elsewhere in Scotland the new area structure introduced
by the Lord Advocate last year continues to enable better
and more regular communication and liaison.
Assistant Chief Constable (Crime) Graeme Pearson
commented:
"These changes are welcomed by Strathclyde Police. Even
at this early stage, we are witnessing significant
benefits, which accrue from Plan Alpha. The enhanced
liaison that now exists between police and designated
procurators fiscal is a powerful device which assists in
identifying and dealing with those who present the biggest
threat or nuisance to our communities"
The new arrangements see the fiscal's central area
corresponds to the Strathclyde Police A division; the
north-west to C division; the east to E division; and the
south to G division.
Strathclyde Police has nine divisions:
A Division encompasses the city centre of Glasgow and
the residential areas of Cranstonhill and Partick in the
west. The city centre is the regional centre of West
Central Scotland for employment, shopping, entertainment
and tourism and more than 250,000 people pass through the
Division every day. It has a population of around 97,000
people.
C Division is located within the council areas of the
City of Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire. Familiar place
names found within its boundaries include Maryhill,
Drumchapel, Kirkintilloch and Milngavie. There is a
high-mix of high-density housing, rural and semi-rural
areas. It has a population of 260,000 people - the
equivalent of many medium sized European cities.
E Division covers the East End of Glasgow from
Springburn in the North to Dalmarnock in the South and as
far as Baillieston and Easterhouse in the East. It is home
to Celtic Park, Scotland's largest football stadium where
up to 60,000 fans converge every second week. It has a
population of 172,500 people.
G Division is on the south side of Glasgow and extends
into East Renfrewshire. It boasts both Ibrox Stadium, home
of Glasgow Rangers FC and the National Stadium home of the
Scottish football team. It has a population of 324,000
people and has more police officers covering the vast area
than many UK Forces have in total.
K - Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
L - Clydebank, Dunbartonshire and Argyll
N - North Lanarkshire
Q - South Lanarkshire
U - Ayrshire
An Assistant Procurator Fiscal, leading a team of 50 to
80 staff, heads each of the Glasgow divisions.