This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Oban Procurator Fiscal office relocates
10/07/2003
The Procurator Fiscal office for Oban, which serves the
local community, has moved to new premises after 80 years
in the Sheriff Court building in Albany Street.
The relocation of the Fiscal service from its old
offices to bigger modern premises in Argyle Square, Oban,
is part of the programme of modernisation and reform of
Scotland's prosecution service.
Mr John Miller, Area Procurator Fiscal for Argyll &
Clyde, said:
"We are committed to the local delivery of high quality
service and recognise the benefit of ensuring that the
dedicated and experienced staff here in Oban have a modern
working environment in which they can continue to provide
an efficient service for the community.
"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is
currently in the process of a major programme of
structural, management and cultural changes to allow us to
deliver a more focused modern service fit for the 21
st century. The new Oban Procurator Fiscal
office is one more step towards that goal."
Modernisation and reform changes since March 2002
include:
- Moved to area structure, matching that of Police
Forces, to improve communication and close working with
police. Mr John Miller is the Argyll & Clyde Area
Procurator Fiscal based at Paisley.
- Throughout Scotland recruited over 100 additional
front line staff, including over 40 legal staff and 21
legal trainees, in past year. More being
recruited.
- Introducing modern IT system, to improve case
management, and ease burden of paperwork for legal
staff
- Appointed senior administrators to support Area
Procurators Fiscal, freeing up more time for legal
work
- Appointment of Chief Executive and experienced
management team, to free up senior legal staff from
'central' responsibilities such as personnel
- Roll-out of Victim Information and Advice service,
improving the level of information and support we offer
victims
- Created two new units - Civil Recovery and Criminal
Confiscation, to ensure we reap the benefits of new
powers contained within the new Proceeds of Crime
Act
- Have worked with staff at all levels, improving
communication and levels of support offered to front
line staff, to ensure efficient prosecution of
crime
- Working towards establishing independent
inspectorate by the end of this year.