Annual Report 2011-12

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 continues to meet every four months under the Chairmanship of the Lord Advocate's Legal Secretary.

During the course of the year I am delighted to report that following the retirement of Mr James Hamilton the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Republic of Ireland an invitation was extended to his successor, Claire Loftus, who accepted the invitation. Having the Directors of two external prosecution systems provides a useful external perspective for the Inspectorate, its work and its manner of operation.

The Inspectorate takes a risk based approach to the selection of topics for inspection and having two external lay members on the group also greatly assists in having some input into the choice of topics.