Lord Advocate Opens New Livingston PFO
8 February 2010
LORD ADVOCATE OPENS NEW LIVINGSTON PROCURATOR FISCAL'S OFFICE
The Lord Advocate, the Right Honourable Elish Angiolini QC, today officially opened the new Procurator Fiscal's Office for Livingston at the West Lothian Civic Centre.
The Lord Advocate was joined at the opening by the District Procurator Fiscal for Livingston Adrian Cottam.
Mr Cottam and his team now benefit from an excellent open plan office, including a customer reception, interview rooms for witnesses, conference facilities, and improved storage facilities.
The transfer from Linlithgow to the new purpose-built civic centre - the largest centre of its type in the UK - sees COPFS sharing a building with a host of other local partner agencies including the police, Scottish Court Service, fire service, and West Lothian Council.
This means the prosecution staff have access to a range of new facilities on hand, including six courtrooms with new audio visual systems and new IT facilities, which enhance the way cases are presented to juries. There are also improved facilities for vulnerable witnesses.
Opening the building, the Lord Advocate said:
"I am delighted to be able to officially open the new Procurator Fiscal's office here in Livingston.
"This excellent new facility gives District Procurator Fiscal Adrian Cottam and his team a modern working environment, and will allow them to continue to work with the police and local authority to give the people of West Lothian the safe community that they deserve.
"The staff at the Livingston office know that an effective prosecution service is about much more than prosecuting cases in court; it is about working with the community to tackle the problems which impact on people's lives.
"The staff here provide an excellent service to the local community in ensuring efficient and effective justice."
Mr Cottam said the community is already benefiting from the move.
"We are delighted with the new facilities which we have here in the West Lothian Civic Centre," said Mr Cottam.
"The first few months have been exciting and challenging and we are already seeing a real improvement in the way we work in the office and with other agencies.
"We are able to work more closely with our criminal justice partners in the building, including the police, council and community safety forum, enhancing the service we provide to the community."
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0844 561 4078
Note to Editors:
1. The Lord Advocate will open the office at 2pm on 8 February 2010.
2. The District Procurator Fiscal for Livingston is Adrian Cottam who is supported by 27 other members of staff.
3. The West Lothian Civic Centre is home to the following agencies:
· Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
· Livingston Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Court complex
· West Lothian Divisional Police Headquarters
· West Lothian Council
· Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
· Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service
· West Lothian Community Health and Care Partnership
4. Contact details:
Procurator Fiscal's Office
West Lothian Civic Centre
Howden South Road
Livingston
EH54 6FF
0844 561 4240