Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

18 July 2007

LORD ADVOCATE WELCOMES THE INSPECTORATE'S REPORT ON LIAISON WITH BEREAVED FAMILIES IN DEATH CASES

The Lord Advocate, The Right Honourable Elish Angiolini QC, today welcomed the Independent Inspectorate of Prosecution's report on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) liaison with bereaved families in death cases.

The report - 'Liaison in Death Cases with Particular Reference to Organ Retention' - was prompted by the work of the Independent Review Group on the Retention of Organs at Post Mortem which led to the passing of the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006. The Review Group's Phase 3 report (published in November 2003) recommended that an audit of the effectiveness of COPFS' arrangements for communication with families in such cases be conducted.

Responding to the report, The Lord Advocate, The Right Honourable Elish Angiolini QC, said:

"Although the Inspector's latest report does not cover all COPFS work on death investigations, I am pleased that he has concluded that deaths are investigated properly and in a sensitive fashion.

"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has done a great deal of work on this area in recent years. We have now completed an extensive review on the approach to the investigation of sudden and unexplained deaths. Following the review, we introduced a revised deaths training course and detailed guidance for staff on all aspects of deaths investigation, including liaison with bereaved relatives. This Inspectorate report and our own internal reviews will help to ensure that we deliver a professional and thorough service in this very complex and sensitive area of our work."

Notes to Editors:

1. Copies of the report will be available at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent on 18 July 2007.

2. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service response to the Inspectorate's recommendations can be found in the publications section at
/publications

3. Procurators Fiscal investigate all sudden deaths and deaths in suspicious circumstances that are reported to them.

Approximately 13,500 sudden, unexplained and unexpected deaths are reported annually to the Procurator Fiscal.

Many deaths are reported because no-one has been able to issue a death certificate and the Procurator Fiscal has to ascertain the cause of death by instructing an autopsy if necessary.

Investigating deaths is an increasingly complex are of work as a result of advances in medical science. Wherever possible, we respect the wishes of the next-of-kin and keep them fully informed.

The Procurator Fiscal is required to investigate all sudden deaths made known to him or her impartially, speedily, thoroughly and sensitively and to ensure that appropriate action is taken, including the conduct of public inquiries.

4. Further detailed information on the role of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in relation to the investigation of sudden and unexplained deaths and information that is provided to bereaved families can be found at
/Publications

Communications

0131 247 2669/2701

www.copfs.gov.uk