News from COPFS

At the start of the 2017 Hate Crime Awareness campaign the Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC has reiterated his warning to those who engage in such abhorrent behaviour that they will face the full force of the law.

New powers to seize criminal gains are increasingly disruptive to serious organised crime, the Lord Advocate has said. Recent changes to the law, and new powers coming into effect in January, are making it easier to seize money, assets and property from serious criminals.

In the public interest: maintaining the rule of law and the interests of justice in a time of change” was the theme of the Lord Advocate James Wolffe’s speech to the 2017 Law Society Annual Conference, Glasgow on 19 September.

COPFS and Police Scotland recognise the level of public concern following media reports about Smyllum Park Home, including reports that children were buried in unmarked graves.

The Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, delivered the Apex Scotland annual lecture on the subject of “Prosecution in the Public Interest”.

COPFS figures published today show that prosecutors in Scotland dealt with over 30,000 domestic abuse charges reported by Police Scotland in the year 2016-17.

COPFS has changed its 0844 telephone numbers to 0300 telephone numbers to reduce the cost of calls for our customers.

The Hate Crime in Scotland 2016-17 report was released today.

We have published our Standards of Service for Victims and Witnesses 2017-18 report; our Equality Outcomes Mainstreaming Report 2017; and Equality Outcomes 2017-2021.

The Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC and Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams have launched a new Joint Protocol on domestic abuse.