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Introduction
This report is the product of a joint thematic inspection carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland ( HMICS) and the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland ( IPS). It presents options that should help the Scottish Government to generate and sustain improvements in tackling wildlife crime.
The needs and aspirations of the many who have professional or personal interests in Scotland's environment, habitats and species, whilst by no means exactly matching, have much more in common than they may realise. The skill therefore, will be in harnessing the energy of this wider consensus to make broad progress, while at the same time providing clear leadership to help negotiate those few areas where tensions are higher and success will be harder won.
LAYOUT OF REPORT
The Executive Summary of this report is set out in accordance with the remit of the inspection as stated to the Scottish Parliament on 4th October 2007. It is therefore laid out principally under the headings of:
- Prevention
- Investigation
- Prosecution
Our inspection methodology is aligned with the Business Excellence Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management ( EFQM). Consequently, we present the information contained within the main body of the report under the following EFQM headings:
- Leadership
- Policy and Strategy
- People
- Partnership and Resources
- Processes
- Results
THE ROLE OF HER MAJESTY'S INSPECTORATE OF CONSTABULARY FOR SCOTLAND ( HMICS)
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland ( HMICS) is a statutory body established under the terms of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, as amended. HMICS acts on behalf of the Crown by:
- scrutinising Scottish policing;
- reporting its findings to Scottish Ministers, Parliament and the public; and
- providing professional advice on policing and police issues to Scottish Ministers.
HMICS discharges its duty primarily through an inspection programme that increasingly employs thematic inspections, including those carried out jointly with other inspectorates.
THE ROLE OF THE INSPECTORATE OF PROSECUTION IN SCOTLAND ( IPS)
The Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland ( IPS) was created in December 2003. It operated on an administrative basis until April 2007, when it received statutory standing in terms of sections 78 and 79 of the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007. The IPS is the independent inspectorate for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service ( COPFS), which is the sole prosecuting authority in Scotland and responsible for investigating sudden deaths and complaints of a criminal nature against the police. Its principal functions are to inspect the operation of COPFS and make recommendations for improvements. It also examines the COPFS outcomes and results and promotes good practice. By doing so the IPS makes COPFS more accountable and helps to raise public confidence in its service delivery. All reports are submitted to the Lord Advocate and are published on the IPS website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/ipis. An annual report is laid before the Scottish Parliament.