This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Lord Advocate visits Cambeltown prosecution service
07/10/2005
The Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC, met staff of the Campbeltown Procurator Fiscal Office today to discuss progress in the reform of the prosecution service in the area, and listen to staff views on the impact of reforms. The Campbeltown office is part of the COPFS Argyll & Clyde Area.
Colin Boyd said:
"Today I had the opportunity to meet Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff in Campbeltown to see what has been achieved here since the department's modernisation and reform programme was introduced three years ago.
"It is encouraging to see the prosecution service in this region making significant progress due to the efforts of the dedicated and professional staff in Argyll and Clyde. I was particularly pleased to hear that changes in working practices and investment in new technology have resulted in significant benefits for victims, witnesses and local communities in and around Campbeltown.
"I also welcome the news that this week, four people have been appointed to positions at the Campbeltown Office transcribing police interview tapes from the West of Scotland. These appointments are a further example of the Scottish Executive's commitment to developing rural employment opportunities."
Mr John Watt, Area Procurator Fiscal for Argyll & Clyde said:
"I am delighted to welcome the Lord Advocate to the Argyll and Clyde Area and have the opportunity to demonstrate the improvements that new working practices and better partnership working with the police and courts are bringing in Campbeltown."
George Lyon, Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business said:
"I welcome this news for Campbeltown. The establishment of yet another small unit by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and creation of four new posts to the area, demonstrates the Executive's commitment to spreading the benefit of public sector jobs to fragile and remote communities. These jobs will make an important contribution locally. "
There is one permanent member of staff at Campbeltown who is the office manager Yvonne Nicoll. The legal and court work are undertaken principally by David Glancy and Sarah Healing from the Fiscal's Office at Paisley who attend at Campbeltown on court days.
In Argyll & Clyde Area there are three larger offices - Paisley, Greenock and Dumbarton and three smaller offices Oban, Campbeltown and Dunoon. There are approximately 101 posts within the Area.
Campbeltown office processed 735 reports (688 criminal) in the year Aug 03 to July 04 and 824 reports (789 criminal) in the year Aug 04 to July 05 - an increase of 12%. Over the same periods, however, the number of solemn cases has decreased
Arrangements are almost complete for a new remote typing unit which will provide full-time employment for four people. It is a pilot scheme and is expected to last for one year. It is planned that the unit will open as early as the end of October. The unit will undertake a specific area of work transcribing police interview tapes from PF offices in the West of Scotland.
This relocation announcement is part of the Executive's programme for moving public sector jobs opportunities across Scotland. It follows the announcement of 2 other small unit relocation by the Crown Office. In January 2004, the Crown Office set up a pilot in Dingwall, to process the transcription of police interview tapes, creating 5.5 new posts, and in January 2005 another small unit was set up in Tain, employing 4 staff.