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HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland
- About Us
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News
- News – Annual Report 2022-23 published
- News – Terms of Reference published for joint review of diversion from prosecution
- Press release – Process and impact of diversion from prosecution reviewed
- Press release – Evidence in sexual offence trials under scrutiny
- Press release – Inspection of management of criminal allegations against the police by COPFS published
- News – Terms of Reference published for inspection of the prosecution of domestic abuse cases
- We have moved
- Press release - Prosecution of domestic abuse cases under scrutiny
- News – Terms of Reference published for inspection of how COPFS responds to enquiries
- News – Updated Inspection Framework published
- News - Survey launched
- News – Annual Report 2023-24 published
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Publications
- Joint review of diversion from prosecution
- Annual Report 2021-22
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Inspection of COPFS practice in relation to sections 274 and 275 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
- Key findings
- Recommendations
- 1. Context and methodology
- 2. Data on section 275 applications
- 3. Responding to case law and supporting staff
- 4. Processes for managing section 275 applications
- 5. Engaging with the complainer
- 6. Section 275 applications in the Sheriff Court
- Appendix 1 – High Court case review findings
- Appendix 2 – Key terms
- Footnotes
- Strategic plan 2022-25
- Terms of Reference – Joint review of diversion from prosecution
- Terms of Reference – Inspection of COPFS practice in relation to sections 274 and 275 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
- Annual Report 2020-21
- Inspection of the management of criminal allegations against the police by COPFS
- Terms of Reference – Inspection of the management of criminal allegations against the police by COPFS
- Annual Report 2019-20
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Joint inspection of emergency criminal justice provisions
- Introduction
- Key findings
- 1. Electronic signature and electronic transmission of documents
- 2. Remote, electronic attendance at court
- 3. National jurisdiction for first appearance from police custody
- 4. Lord Advocate's Guidelines on liberation from police custody during Covid-19
- Appendix 1 - Survey results
- Footnotes
- Follow-up review of the investigation and prosecution of sexual crime
- Terms of Reference – Joint inspection of emergency criminal justice provisions
- Annual Report 2018-19
- Records management plan
- A guide to information
- Memorandum of understanding between HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution in Scotland, the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Government's Director, Justice
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Follow-up review of Fatal Accident Inquiries
- Key Terms
- Chapter 1 – Investigation of Deaths By Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
- Chapter 2 – Processes and Procedures
- Chapter 3 – Case Review
- Chapter 4 – Criminal Proceedings
- Chapter 5 – Expert Evidence
- Chapter 6 – Communication With Nearest Relatives and Interested Parties
- Chapter 7 – Role of Other Regulatory and Investigative Bodies
- Chapter 8 – Deaths of Young People In Custody
- Overview
- Annex A – COPFS FAI Process Flowchart
- Annex B – Family Liaison Charter
- Footnotes
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Thematic review of the investigation and prosecution of sheriff solemn cases
- Key Terms
- Key Findings
- Recommendations
- Chapter 1 – Sheriff and Jury Journey
- Chapter 2 – Leadership and Governance
- Chapter 3 – Sheriff and Jury Reforms
- Chapter 4 – Overview of Cases Indicted In 2018
- Chapter 5 – Analysis Of Reforms
- Chapter 6 – Communication With Victims
- Annex A – Survey of Defence Practitioners
- Annex B – Victim Information and Advice (VIA) Remit
- Footnotes
- Annual Report 2017-18
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Thematic report on the prosecution of young people
- Key Terms
- Key Findings
- Recommendations
- Chapter 1 – Criminal Justice Response to Youth Offending
- Chapter 2 – Young People in the Criminal Justice System 2016/17
- Cohort Review
- Chapter 3 – Diversion
- Court-based Initiatives
- Chapter 4 – Solemn Proceedings
- Chapter 5 – Road Traffic Offences
- Footnotes
- Cohort Review (explanation)
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Thematic report on the Victims' Right to Review and complaints handling and feedback follow-up report
- Key Terms
- Key Findings
- Recommendations
- 1. VRR Policy, Processes and Procedures
- 2. Quality of Reviews
- 3. Communication and Contact
- Annex A – Criminal Law and Procedure
- Annex B – Victim Information and Advice (VIA) Remit
- Part II – Complaints Handling and Feedback - Follow-Up Report
- Other Developments
- Recommendations (Part II)
- Progress against Recommendations
- Concluding Remarks
- Footnotes
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Thematic review of the investigation and prosecution of sexual crimes
- Acknowledgement
- Key Findings
- Recommendations
- Key Terms
- Chapter 1 – Outcome Of High Court Sexual Crimes
- Cohort Of Investigation
- Chapter 2 – Investigation And Prosecution Of Sexual Crimes
- Case Study
- Cohort Of Pre-Petition Investigation
- Chapter 3 – Pre-Petition Investigation
- Chapter 4 – Victims And Witnesses
- Chapter 5 – Sensitive Personal Records
- Cohort Of Child Offenders
- Chapter 6 – Children
- Annex A – Criminal Law And Procedure
- Annex B – Victim Information And Advice (VIA) Remit
- Footnotes
- Follow-up report on the management of time limits
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Thematic review of Fatal Accident Inquiries
- Key Findings
- Recommendations
- Investigation of Deaths by Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
- Processes and Procedures
- Case Review
- Criminal Proceedings
- Expert Evidence
- Involvement of Nearest Relatives and Interested Parties
- Role of Other Regulatory and Investigative Bodies
- Reporting and Regulatory Authorities
- The Role and Management of FAIs
- Annex A - COPFS FAI Process Flowchart
- Annex B - Family Liaison Charter
- Annex C - Glossary of Terms
- Footnotes
- Thematic report on complaints handling and feedback
- Follow-up report on the International Co-operation Unit
- Follow-up report on community engagement
- Follow-up report on Health and Safety Division
- Follow-up report on the Knowledge Bank
- Thematic report on the management of time limits
- Follow-up report on organ retention
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Thematic report on organ retention
- Executive Summary
- Summary of Recommendations
- Part 1 – Introduction and Background
- Part 2 – Investigation of Deaths, Post-Mortems and Organ Retention
- Part 3 – Case Review
- Part 4 – Processes and Procedures
- Part 5 – Provision of Pathology Services
- Part 6 – Communication with Nearest Relatives
- Annex A - England and Wales and Northern Ireland (E&W and NI)
- Annex B - Definition of Organs
- Annex C - Organ Retention Flow Chart
- Annex D - Guidance, Aids and Services
- Annex E - Glossary of Terms
- Footnotes
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Thematic report on the International Co-operation Unit
- Recommendation
- Part 1 – Introduction and Background
- Part 2 – Leadership
- Part 3 – Structure and operation of ICU
- Part 4 – International Liaison and relationships
- Part 5 – IT systems and processes
- Part 6 – Case Review
- Annex A - Framework Offences
- Annex B - Extradition Process for Incoming European Arrest Warrants
- Annex C - Glossary
- Footnotes
- Thematic report on the Knowledge Bank
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Thematic report on COPFS Enquiry Point
- Chapter 2: Methodology
- Chapter 3: Leadership And Business Planning
- Chapter 4: Process
- Chapter 5: People
- Chapter 6: Financial Resources
- Chapter 7: Risk Management And Contingency
- Chapter 8: Equality
- Chapter 9: Monitoring Performance:
- Chapter 10: Partners
- Chapter 11: Customer Satisfaction
- Chapter 12: Conclusion and Recommendations
- Appendix 1: Central Office of Information advice on data that should be collected in contact centres
- Appendix 2: Breakdown of Type of Call 01/05/12 to 30/11/12
- Appendix 3: Breakdown of Reason for Calls 01/05/12 to 30/11/12
- Appendix 4: Central Office of Information checklist to help ensure you are complying with the main requirements of the Data Protection Act
- Footnotes
- Thematic report on Health and Safety Division
- Thematic report on summary case preparation
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Victims in the criminal justice system – Phase II
- Summary of Recommendations and Suggestions
- Introduction
- Background
- Chapter 1 – Initial Reporting and Recording of Crime
- Chapter 2 – Police Enquiry and Investigation
- Chapter 3 – Reporting of Accused to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
- Chapter 4 – Receipt of Case and Initial Consideration
- Chapter 5 – Attending Court, Trial and Case Closure
- Conclusion
- Appendix A - COPFS Victims Assistance Workflow Diagram
- Footnotes
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Thematic report on knife crime
- Chapter 2 – Executive Summary and Recommendations
- Chapter 3 – Prosecution of Knife Crime in Scotland in Context
- Chapter 4 – The Law Concerning Knife Crime
- Chapter 5 – COPFS Policy and Guidance on Knife Crime
- Chapter 6 – Case Review
- Appendix 1 – List of Offences in Case Review where knife (or similar weapon) shown as modifier
- Footnotes
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Thematic report on community engagement
- Executive Summary
- Recommendations
- Chapter 1 – Leadership
- Chapter 2 – Policy and Strategy
- Chapter 3 – Processes
- Chapter 4 – Finance
- Chapter 5 – People
- Chapter 6 – Partnerships
- Chapter 7 – Results
- Appendix 1 Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- Appendix 2: Scottish Government National Standards Community Engagement
- Appendix 3 Methods Used in Engaging With Communities
- Footnotes
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Thematic report on learning and development
- Summary of Recommendations
- Background and Introduction
- Chapter 1 – Leadership
- Chapter 2 – Policy and Strategy
- Chapter 3 – Identifying Learning Needs
- Chapter 4 – Key Processes and Standards
- Chapter 5 – Prospectus
- Chapter 6 – Administration of Learning and Development
- Chapter 7 – Finance
- Chapter 8 – Learning and Development Facilities
- Chapter 9 – Staffing of Learning and Development Division
- Chapter 10 – Partnerships
- Chapter 11 – Results
- Appendix 1 – Question Sets
- Appendix 2 – Learning and Development Division Courses
- Appendix 3 – Learning and Development Division E-learning Packages
- Footnotes
- Victims in the criminal justice system - Phase I
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Thematic report on the use of compensation offers, and combined fiscal fines and compensation offers
- Chapter 2 – Methodology
- Chapter 3 – Background
- Chapter 4 – Implementation by Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- Chapter 5 – Results
- Chapter 6 – Conclusions and Recommendations
- Annex I Compensation Offers – September 2008
- Annex II Combined Fiscal Fines and Compensation Offers – September 2008
- Footnotes
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Joint thematic report on the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
- Executive Summary
- Chapter 1 – Leadership
- Chapter 2 – Strategy
- Chapter 3 – Processes
- Chapter 4 – Partnerships
- Chapter 5 – People
- Chapter 6 – Resources
- Chapter 7 – Results
- Appendix 1 – Structures of Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for POCA
- Appendix 2 – Sewell Debate
- Appendix 3 – History of the Legislation
- Appendix 4 – The Main Provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
- Appendix 5 – Schedule 4
- Appendix 6 – Section 142
- Appendix 7 – Section 327, 328 and 329
- Acknowledgements
- Glossary
- Footnotes
- Thematic report on fiscal fines
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Natural Justice: A Joint Thematic Inspection of the Arrangements in Scotland for Preventing, Investigating and Prosecuting Wildlife Crime
- Conclusions
- Summary of Recommendations
- Introduction
- Background
- Scope
- Aim
- Methodology
- Acknowledgements
- Main Report
- Appendix 1. Langholm Projects
- Appendix 2. Duke of Edinburgh Scheme
- Appendix 3. Look. Don’t Touch!
- Appendix 4. National Intelligence Model
- Appendix 5. Partnership Structure (Present)
- Appendix 6. Partnership Structure (Proposed)
- Appendix 7. Contributions
- Appendix 8. Glossary
- Thematic report on complaints against the police
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Death cases – A thematic report on liaison in death cases with particular reference to organ retention
- Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
- Chapter 2 Background Information and Guidance
- Chapter 3 Views from Staff
- Chapter 4 Feedback from Service Users
- Chapter 5 View from Pathologists and Other Medical Personnel
- Chapter 6 Post Mortems, Organ Retention and Donation
- Chapter 7 Road Deaths
- Chapter 8 Diversity Issues
- Chapter 9 Conclusions and Recommendations
- Annex 1 List of Reference Group Members
- Annex 2 List of Contributors
- Footnotes
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A case study – A joint thematic inspection of case management
- Summary of Recommendations
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 – Criminal Justice Strategy
- Chapter 2 – Working Together
- Chapter 3 – Target Setting
- Chapter 4 – Quality
- Chapter 5 – Case Management Processes
- Chapter 6 – Co-Location
- Chapter 7 – Serious Crime Protocol
- Chapter 8 – Alternatives to Prosecution
- Chapter 9 – Abbreviated Reports
- Chapter 10 – Requests for Information
- Chapter 11 – Statements
- Chapter 12 – Training
- Footnotes
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Joint thematic report on the provision of services to witnesses
- Chapter 1 Background and Methodology
- Chapter 2 Witness Service and Victim Information and Advice – A Background
- Chapter 3 Liaison Arrangements – The System in Practice
- Chapter 4 Diversity/Equality Issues
- Chapter 5 Legislation and Implications for Witnesses Bonomy Review, Vulnerable Witnesses
- Recommendations
- Annex 1 List of Members of Reference Group
- Annex 2 BEING A WITNESS LEAFLET
- Annex 3 Victim Information and Advice
- Annex 4 REFERRALS AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE: AN OPERATIONAL PROTOCOL BETWEEN VICTIM INFORMATION AND ADVICE ( VIA) AND THE WITNESS SERVICE ( WS)
- Annex 5 CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE SCOTTISH COURT SERVICE JOINT STATEMENT ON CROWN WITNESSES
- Annex 6 FISCAL SERVICE QUESTIONNAIRE
- Annex 7 SCOTTISH COURT SERVICE QUESTIONNAIRE
- Annex 8 VICTIM INFORMATION & ADVICE QUESTIONNAIRE
- Annex 9 WITNESS SERVICE QUESTIONNAIRE
- Footnotes
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Thematic report on Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service's response on race issues
- Introduction
- Chapter 1. Background
- Chapter 2. Race Crime
- Chapter 3. Interpreters
- Chapter 4. Employment
- Chapter 5. Consultation
- Chapter 6. Race Equality Scheme
- Conclusions
- Recommendations
- Chronology
- Annex A
- Annex B Interpreters Postal Survey
- Annex C Lord Advocate's Guidelines
- Appendix A Reference Group Members
- Appendix B List of organisations consulted
- Footnotes
- Annual Report 2016-17
- Annual Report 2015-16
- Annual Report 2014-15
- Annual Report 2013-14
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Annual Report 2012-13
- Foreword
- 1. Staff and Accommodation
- 2. Lord Advocate's Advisory Group
- 3. Inspection Reform and the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
- 4. Equalities Act
- 5. Completed Work
- 6. Current and Future Work Programme
- 7. Freedom of Information
- 8. Budget
- Annex A - Summary Case Preparation Thematic
- Annex B - Health and Safety Division Thematic
- Annex C - Enquiry Point Thematic
- Annex D - List of Thematics published by the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland
- Annex E - List of Completed Area Reports
- Annex F - List of Completed Office Inspection Reports
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Annual Report 2011-12
- 1. STAFF AND ACCOMMODATION
- 2. LORD ADVOCATE'S ADVISORY GROUP
- 3. INSPECTION REFORM AND THE PUBLIC SERVICES REFORM (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010
- 4. EQUALITIES ACT
- 5. COMPLETED WORK
- 6. CURRENT AND FUTURE WORK PROGRAMME
- 7. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
- 8. BUDGET
- ANNEX A - KNIFE CRIME THEMATIC (published 7 July 2011)
- ANNEX B - VICTIMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PHASE II (published 11 November 2011)
- Annual Report 2010-11
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Annual Report 2009-10
- 1 STAFF AND ACCOMMODATION
- 2 LORD ADVOCATE'S ADVISORY GROUP
- 3 INSPECTION REFORM AND THE PUBLIC SERVICES REFORM (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010
- 4 EQUALITIES ACT
- 5 COMPLETED WORK
- 6 CURRENT AND FUTURE WORK PROGRAMME
- 7 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
- 8 BUDGET
- ANNEX A: LANARKSHIRE AREA INSPECTION
- ANNEX B: PROCEEDS OF CRIME ACT 2002
- ANNEX C: THEMATIC REPORT ON COMPENSATION OFFERS
- ANNEX D: UPDATE ON WILDLIFE CRIME
- ANNEX E: UPDATE ON PREVIOUS REPORTS
- Annual Report 2008-09
- Annual Report 2006-08
- Annual Report 2005-06
- Annual Report 2004-05
- Terms of Reference – The prosecution of domestic abuse cases at sheriff summary level
- Annual Report 2022-23
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The prosecution of domestic abuse cases at sheriff summary level
- Key findings
- Recommendations
- Context
- Scope and methodology
- Supporting staff
- Reporting and marking cases
- Preparing and prosecuting cases
- Progressing cases efficiently
- Supporting, protecting and engaging with victims
- Supporting child witnesses
- Supporting continuous improvement
- Working in partnerhsip
- Appendix - key terms
- Footnotes
- Terms of Reference – Responding to enquiries
- Inspection Framework
- Annual Report 2023-24
- Contact
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