Procurator Fiscal service faces review

SCOTLAND’S prosecution service is to undergo a major Holyrood review.

The effectiveness of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) will be probed by MSPs on the Justice Committee.

The country’s independent prosecutor is facing growing demand amid budget cuts and MSPs want to find out if it’s properly equipped for its role.

The treatment of victims of crime will also be investigated.

Convener of the committee, Margaret Mitchell MSP, said: “COPFS is absolutely fundamental to the operation of an effective justice system in Scotland.

“MSPs on the previous justice committee raised several concerns about the additional pressures that the organisation faced in recent times – including an increase in complex historic sex abuse and domestic abuse cases and new requirements required by legislation.

“The COPFS’s responsibilities towards victims and witnesses have also been increasing.

“This has all taken place against a backdrop of tight budgetary settlements in recent years.

“It is likely these significant pressures will continue, so fundamental to this inquiry will be to determine if the COPFS has the resources it needs to bring offenders to justice, and is ‘future-proofed’ to deal with new challenges.”