Copfs

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC has ordered a review of how prosecutors deal with diversion from prosecution in cases of serious sexual offences such as rape. Diversion from prosecution is one of a range of community justice interventions prosecutors will consider. Its application is guided by the Sco

A Glasgow health board has been fined £235,000 after a patient took his own life while in its care. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde pled guilty to a breach of health and safety regulations committed between 1 January 2020 and 23 March 2020.

The Crown Office is progressing with a drive to adopt solar power across its Scottish offices, aimed at reducing both its carbon emissions and public expenditure. Solar panels have been affixed to offices in Falkirk, Hamilton, Glasgow, Dumbarton, Elgin, and to the Crown Office in Edinburgh.

An East Lothian-based haulage company has been fined £150,000 after a 25-year-old LGV driver was fatally electrocuted. Andrew Black Ltd pled guilty to failing to ensure there were suitable controls in place for work carried out near dangerous overhead power lines between 15 November 2021 and 5

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Robert McPaul. Mr McPaul, aged 70, died in Sir Gabriel Wood’s Mariners’ Home, Greenock on 30 March 2018 after choking on food that wa

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a discretionary fatal accident inquiry into the death of 59-year-old Graham Anderson. Mr Anderson died following a heart attack in his office at Calachem Ltd, Grangemouth on 1 May 2020.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) notes the conclusion of the fatal accident inquiry into the death of John Norman Murray on Lewis. The inquiry considered what steps could be taken to prevent further deaths in similar circumstances and was held following a specialist investigati

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry into the death of 69-year-old Robert Chalmers. Mr Chalmers died on 4 April 2022 at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh after being transferred there from HMP E

A former teacher and football coach who was surrendered from Vietnam to stand trial for the sexual abuse of young boys has been jailed for five years. Kenneth Divers abused the boys, some as young as 11, at various locations including Hampden Park and two schools in Paisley between 1968 and 1992.

A window cleaner who was caught on a video doorbell camera attempting to rape an elderly woman has been jailed for four years and six months. James McArdle, 64, from Hamilton, Lanarkshire, admitted sexually assaulting the 74-year-old woman, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Two pupils from St Peter the Apostle High School in Clydebank have been crowned winners of this year’s Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) school public speaking competition.

A seafood company has been fined £80,000 after a fisherman drowned when his leg was caught in a rope and he was pulled overboard. Thurso-based Scrabster Seafoods Limited pled guilty to health and safety breaches at Tain Sheriff Court on 7 June 2023.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged first notices with the Sheriff Court to begin the court process for conjoined fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of James Garscadden, Thomas Thompson and Marius Bauba. All three men died while in legal custody at HMP Shotts. Their

Three men have been sentenced after admitting using dogs to hunt wild hares. Euan Anderson, Nicky Grant and Jordon Steel, all from South Lanarkshire, had previously pled guilty at Stirling Sheriff Court to wildlife offences.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a joint fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay. Katie and William both died while in legal custody at Polmont HMYOI. An FAI is mandatory under Section 2(