Scottish Budget 2019-2020

Chapter 16 Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

Portfolio Responsibilities

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is the sole public prosecution authority in Scotland, prosecuting cases independently, fairly and effectively in the public interest.

The Lord Advocate has Ministerial responsibility for the work of the Service. His position as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths is enshrined in the Scotland Act 1998 and he exercises that responsibility independently of any other person.

The purpose of the Service is to secure justice for the people of Scotland. It is committed to playing its part in making Scotland a safer place to live.

Portfolio Priorities

COPFS priorities support the Scottish Government's National Outcomes in the National Performance Framework and the 'Justice in Scotland: Vision and Priorities' paper. The Service seeks to contribute to delivering a just, safe and resilient Scotland, in particular by:

• delivering high quality casework;
• improving our service; and
• supporting our people.

Delivering High Quality Casework Priorities

The Service will contribute to the justice vision that we live in safe, cohesive and resilient communities by securing justice through independent, robust, fair and effective decisions, case preparation and presentation.

In 2019-20 we will:

• secure timely justice through appropriate prosecutorial action, achieving the right outcome at the earliest opportunity;
• treat victims, witnesses and nearest relatives with respect and respond to their individual needs;
• respect and uphold the rights of those accused of crime;
• support children and vulnerable witnesses to give evidence in a way that is appropriate to them;
• recover the proceeds of crime, in particular from organised crime and serious economic crime; and
• contribute to tackling inequality through our investigation and prosecution of hate crime, domestic abuse and sexual offending.

Improving Our Service Priorities

The Service will contribute to the Justice Outcome of the National Performance Framework of delivering a person-centred, modern and affordable public service by continuing to modernise the way we work. So far as it may lawfully do so, the Service will explain prosecutorial decisions and be open about our work.

In 2019-20 we will:

• improve communication with victims, witnesses and next of kin;
• implement the judicial protocol on the management of complex High Court cases;
• implement the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018;
• support new legislation which is intended to provide children and vulnerable adults with the opportunity to give their evidence before the start of a trial;
• support the work of the Evidence and Procedure Programme Board to reform the summary criminal justice system;
• support the implementation of the Scottish Government's Justice Digital Strategy;
• implement the COPFS Corporate Digital Strategy;
• use tablet computers to present digital summary casework;
• develop and implement improved digital services for the public;
• provide the capability to work productively across our network of local offices; and
• automate business and administration tasks, saving storage space and reducing printing, paper and postage.

Supporting Our People Priorities

The Service will invest in its people and improve their wellbeing.

In 2019-20 we will:

• build a more engaged, diverse and flexible workforce;
• implement the Fair Futures programme to enhance the wellbeing and career development of our people;
• empower our people by reviewing and modernising their roles and responsibilities;
• improve wellbeing by reducing travel through enabling more flexible 'location-neutral' working;
• invest in the skills and knowledge which our people will need to excel; and
• invest in the development of future leaders to inspire and engage staff.

Spending Plans

Table 16.01: Spending Plans (Level 2)

Table 16.02: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Spending Plans (Level 3)

What the COPFS budget does

COPFS receives reports of crimes from the police and other reporting agencies. It assesses whether there is sufficient evidence to take prosecutorial action, and, if so, what action is in the public interest. In appropriate cases, it directs investigations by the police. Prosecutors in COPFS prosecute all forms of crime before the High Court, Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace court and impose direct prosecutorial measures. The Service takes action to assess and recover proceeds of crime; co-operates with counterparts in other jurisdictions; and assists victims and witnesses. COPFS also investigates deaths which require further explanation and complaints of criminal conduct against police officers.