The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland, the investigation of sudden or suspicious deaths, and the investigation of complaints against the police. We work closely with our partners in the criminal justice system to help make Scotland a safer place.
Our Aims
- To serve the public interest while maintaining public confidence in the system, and to prosecute cases independently, fairly and efficiently
- To work closely with other agencies in the criminal justice system to make Scotland a safer place
- To engage with local communities and respond to their needs and priorities
COPFS is Scotland's sole prosecution authority. Our five main objectives are:
- To deliver swift, effective justice, giving priority to serious crime, including sexual offending, serious violence, organised crime and drug trafficking
- To work with the police, local communities and others to solve problems caused by presistent offending, helping people live their lives free from crime, disorder and danger
- To ensure that all deaths reported to the Procurator Fiscal are investigated appropriately
- To provide services that meet the information needs of victims, witnesses and nearest relatives, in co-operation with other agencies
- To respect and protect diversity, and promote tolerance
Our values are:
We recognise the important role that a prosecution service has in any society and we carry out our work in accordance with our key values:
- Independence - Making our decisions based on a fair, impartial and objective assessment of what is in the public interest
- Integrity - Being open in our dealings with the defence and the court while preserving the confidentiality of reports and investigations
- Sensitivity - Recognising the needs of the public, including victims, witnesses and next of kin
- Respect - Valuing the contribution of staff, developing their full potential, encouraging team work and rewarding performance
- Professionalism - Investigating, preparing and presenting cases thoroughly, critically and accurately