Annual Report 2006-08

Thematic reports run in tandem with office/area inspections, usually two per year. The full text of these can be read at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/ipis .

THEMATIC REPORT ON LIAISON IN DEATH CASES WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ORGAN RETENTION - FEBRUARY 2007

This particular thematic report was prompted by the work of the Independent Review Group on Retention of Organs at Post Mortem chaired by Professor Sheila McLean and which led to the passing of the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006.

In addition to its role in connection with the prosecution and investigation of crime the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has the duty to investigate all sudden, suspicious, unexplained, unexpected or accidental deaths or where there are issues of public safety or concern.

This thematic report looked at the arrangements for liaison with next of kin and included evidence obtained from a wide variety of sources including next of kin, staff, pathologists and others.

Nine specific recommendations were made.

THEMATIC REPORT ON COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE - JANUARY 2008

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service deals with complaints against the police which are of a criminal nature ie where the complaint alleges that a crime may have been committed by a police officer in the course of duty. These are by definition the most serious form of complaints against the police. These are excluded from the Police Complaints Commissioner.

The thematic looked at the quality of investigation and decision making in a selection of complaints against the police including compliance with various Crown Office policies and procedures and instructions given by the Lord Advocate.

The Strathclyde Area (consisting of 4 Procurator Fiscal Areas) was chosen as it represented over 50% of such work for all of Scotland. In accordance with inspectorate policy a large number of individual cases were reviewed and findings published for each of the 4 offices.

A number of conclusions were published, the most important being to recommend an internal review of policy as there appeared to be an appetite for change.

JOINT THEMATIC REPORT ON THE ARRANGEMENTS IN SCOTLAND FOR PREVENTING, INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING WILDLIFE CRIME - APRIL 2008

This was a joint thematic published in conjunction with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary announced in October 2007 by the Minister for Environment, Mike Russell, and the Solicitor General, Frank Mulholland following a Parliamentary debate on wildlife crime.

This in turn had been prompted by widespread concern that this had become a significant problem in Scotland.

The work was carried out by inspectors from both the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and included from the prosecution aspect examination of all cases reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service from the start of 2006 until late 2007. A considerable number of interested bodies and individuals were consulted and the report made 24 recommendations, 8 of which were specific to the prosecution service.

The report, following publication, was debated in the Scottish Parliament in May 2008 and received widespread support.