Annual Report 2010-11

The Lord Advocate's Advisory Group (established in 2006) consists of a number of ex officio members, invited members and two lay members recruited by public advertisement.

Its primary function as ever is to provide advice on the work programme of the Inspectorate and to keep under review the working relationship between the Inspectorate and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

The Group meets every four months under the Chairmanship of the Lord Advocate's Legal Secretary.

The Group continues to have as an invited member the Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales who heads up the Crown Prosecution Service. I am delighted to report that, in addition, Mr James Hamilton, the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Republic of Ireland, also accepted an invitation to be a member of the Group. Having the Directors of two external prosecution systems provides a useful external perspective for the Inspectorate, its work and its manner of operation.

The Group as a whole continues to provide invaluable advice on the work programme of the Inspectorate and furnish feedback on its published reports.