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CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE
PORTFOLIO RESPONSIBILITIES
The overarching responsibility of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service ( COPFS) is to serve the public interest, prosecuting cases independently, fairly and effectively.
The key aims of COPFS are to:
- secure the confidence of Scotland's diverse communities by improving the delivery of justice through the timely, efficient and effective prosecution of crime;
- give priority to prosecution of serious crime, including drugs trafficking and persistent offenders;
- provide services that meet the information needs of victims, witnesses and next of kin, in co-operation with other agencies; and
- ensure that all deaths reported to the Procurator Fiscal are investigated appropriately and speedily.
In this way, COPFS contributes to a safer and stronger Scotland by ensuring that cases are brought to a conclusion in the most appropriate way as quickly as possible. By tackling crime quickly and using a wider range of measures appropriate for specific offences, the COPFS portfolio will help to reduce crime and the fear of crime, improve the conditions which support economic development and social capital in communities, and enhance the quality of life of all Scottish people.
GENDER EQUALITY ACTION PLAN
Name of or Agency
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service ( COPFS)
Agency Responsibilities.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service ( COPFS) is Scotland's sole national prosecution service. We also investigate sudden and suspicious deaths, carry out independent inquiries into complaints of criminal conduct by police officers and administer property falling to the Crown. Our core functions include:
- the prosecution of crime;
- the investigation of sudden, suspicious, unexpected or unexplained deaths and, when appropriate, the conduct of public inquiries;
- identifying and meeting the information needs of victims, witnesses and bereaved relatives;
- provision of accessible information to all service users: interpreting, translation and transcription;
- employment and estates
Statement of Agency Commitment to the Promotion of Gender Equality and how this helps to deliver Government's national purpose and outcomes and contributes to progressing the Government's gender equality scheme objectives.
COPFS' priorities support the Scottish Government's strategic objective for safer and stronger communities.
COPFS Strategic Aim:
- Serving the public interest, prosecuting cases independently, fairly and effectively.
Key COPFS Objectives:
- To secure the confidence of our diverse communities by improving the delivery of justice through the timely, efficient and effective prosecution of crime.
- Give priority to prosecution of serious crime, including drugs trafficking and persistent offenders.
- To provide services that meet the information needs of victims, witnesses and nearest bereaved relatives, in co-operation with other agencies.
- To ensure that all deaths reported to the procurator fiscal are investigated appropriately and speedily.
COPFS is committed to promoting gender equality in the delivery of services, in the employment of staff and in the development of our policies and practice. We aim to make gender equality central to the way that COPFS works and to tackle unlawful discrimination and harassment based on a person's gender.
The priorities and goals set out in our Action Plan have been incorporated by our Area Procurator Fiscals and Business Managers into Area and local business plans and are reflected in the performance objectives of our most senior managers and some staff.
What is known about the experiences of, and issues for, women and men affected by the Agency Responsibilities.
The development of our Gender Equality Action Plan has helped us to recognise the duties placed on us by the Equalities Act 2006. It has focused our thinking on gender equality by helping us to recognise what we had already achieved - and to identify and set priorities and goals for the future.
Our Gender Equality Action Plan details the actions we will take, and have taken, across our core functions, in working towards eliminating discrimination and promoting equality between women and men. We have centred on 5 key activities:
1. Raising Awareness
2. Impact Assessment
3. Prosecution of Crime - Violence against Women - our work on Domestic Abuse and the Review of the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences in Scotland
4. Identifying & Meeting the Information Needs of Victims & Witnesses
5. Employment
COPFS Gender Equality Action Plan
The COPFS Gender Equality Action Plan 2007 - 2010 sets out our priority policy areas and planned activity in relation to gender equality across all of our functions. COPFS first annual report on progress on our Gender Equality Action Plan will be published on our website by the end of June 2008 and our Equality Action Plan will be revised and updated.
COPFS welcomes the Cross-Government Commitment to delivering the General Duty (see chapter 9).
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