This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Crown Office modernisation
26/01/2004
Improvements to the prosecution service have
allowed more serious crimes to be dealt with and allowed
the introduction of a much more efficient service available
for victims, Finance and Public Services Minister Andy Kerr
said today.
The improvements are part of the recent restructuring
and reform of the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service as
a result of the additional resources provided by
the Executive.
In 2002-03, the number of High Court cases processed
increased by 17.2 per cent and Sheriff and Jury cases
increased by 12.7 per cent as compared with the comparable
2001-02 figures.
The Minister said:
"It is very encouraging that the extra resources the
Executive provided are making a real difference to the
service being offered to communities across Scotland.
"The restructuring and modernisation has resulted in an
increase in the number of serious crimes dealt with and a
more efficient service available to victims of crime,
bereaved next-of-kin and vulnerable witnesses.
"The improved communication and closer liaison between
the police and the procurator fiscals offices has also
freed up valuable police time allowing them to undertake
more front line duties.
"The Scottish Executive is fully committed to the
structural, management and cultural changes that are needed
to allow us to deliver a more focused modern procurator's
service across Scotland - now and in the future."
Mr Kerr was visiting the Hamilton Procurator Fiscal's
office in Cadzow Business Park, Hamilton. He said:
"It is good to see that the extra resources the
Executive provided are making a real difference to the
service being offered to communities across
Lanarkshire.
"The changes have meant an increase in staffing levels
from 106 in March 2001 to the current levels of 132. There
has also been refurbishment of all the offices in
Lanarkshire and a significant streamlining of the IT
systems used in the prosecution of crime.
"I have also heard about a number of exciting and
innovative projects including the youth court pilot, the
victim liaison offices and theand the continuous programme
of improvement in the way that serious cases are dealt
with.
"The Scottish Executive is fully committed to the
structural, management and cultural changes that are needed
to allow us to deliver a more focused modern procurator's
service both here in Lanarkshire and across Scotland - now
and in the future."
Lanarkshire Area Procurator Fiscal Jim Brisbane
said:
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to show the
Finance Minister how we in Lanarkshire are making use of
the additional resources that the Scottish Executive
awarded the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
These resources are allowing us to make real
improvements to the way we work. We have invested in new
people, new IT and new ways of working which will allow us
to focus on better delivery of our core business of
prosecuting crime in Lanarkshire."
The Lanarkshire Area of the COPFS was created in July
2002 following the recommendations of the Pryce-Dyer
Review.
It was formerly part of the very much larger South
Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway Region. The new Area
comprises three offices - Hamilton, Airdrie and Lanark. It
has an overall staffing complement of 132, of which 41 are
legal staff.
The Victim Information and Advice service (VLA) provides
a dedicated service offering information and advice to
victims of crime, bereaved next-of-kin and vulnerable
witnesses. VIA offices are being rolled out throughout
Scotland in an initiative that has been described as the
most significant practical development in assisting victims
of crime for over 20 year.