Inspectorate of Prosecution publishes annual report
The work of the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland is reviewed in its newly published annual report for 2017-18.
In her foreword chief inspector Michelle MacLeod recognises the significant challenges posed for the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service by budgetary constraints coinciding with the demands of rising levels of reporting of sexual crimes, the need to modernise through digital technology, and the need to respond to victims, witnesses, accused and young offenders. However she expresses particular concern at the time taken to hold fatal accident inquiries, and in one of its thematic reports during the year, the Inspectorate recommended among other things that targets be introduced for progressing mandatory FAIs.
She continues: "In our thematic report on the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Crimes published last year we identified a gap between the service provided to victims and witnesses and what they want, need and expect. We made recommendations designed to provide victims with information and support in a more nuanced way tailored to their individual needs.
"Similar themes arose in our most recent thematic review of the Prosecution of Young People where we made recommendations to improve the timeliness of implementing decisions and the content of communication with young people who are diverted from prosecution."
On the recent announcement of additional money for COPFS, Ms MacLeod observes: "The additional funding is extremely welcome and provides a significant opportunity to tackle some of the issues highlighted in our recent reports. The Lord Advocate has advised that indicting all sexual crimes in the High Court within shorter timescales, providing victims, witnesses and nearest relatives with an improved level of service, including providing regular updates and shortening the time taken to conclude death investigations are among the priorities for the allocation of the additional resource.
"Taking account of the time required to train new staff which will allow more experienced staff to be re-deployed to specialist areas of work such as investigating sexual crimes and deaths, I have deferred the follow-up report on FAIs to allow the additional resource to become established and make an impact."
The follow-up report features in the concluding section on the Inspectorate's current and future work programme, along with a recently begun inspection of sheriff and jury cases, which is looking at the effectiveness and robustness of current systems in place, timeliness, compliance with statutory obligations and guidance, and reasons for adjournments and delays, among other matters. There is also to be a follow-up report on the thematic review on the investigation and prosecution of sexual crimes.