Contact us about a death investigation

The Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU) is a specialist team in COPFS responsible for investigating deaths. SFIU investigates all sudden, suspicious, accidental and unexplained deaths. This includes the sudden, suspicious, accidental, and unexplained deaths of children. 

What is an SFIU hub

If you are the nearest relative of someone who’s death is being investigated by SFIU, you can contact your SFIU hub to request information. 

There are three SFIU hubs which cover the whole of Scotland. These hubs are: 

  • SFIU North which covers Grampian, Highland and Islands, and Tayside 
  • SFIU East which covers Central, Fife, and Lothian and Borders 
  • SFIU West which covers Glasgow and Strathkelvin, North and South Strathclyde, and Dumfries and Galloway 

Information we will need 

When you contact an SFIU hub, you will be asked for some information to help identify you, the caller, and the correct deceased person.  

Please be prepared to give: 

  • Your full name 
  • Your contact number 
  • Name of the person who has died 
  • Date of birth of the person who has died 

If known, the following details are also helpful: 

  • Date the person died 
  • Where they died 
  • PF reference number 

How to contact an SFIU hub 

If you are the nearest relative of someone who’s death is being investigated by SFIU, you can contact your SFIU hub to request information. 

There are three SFIU hubs which cover the whole of Scotland. These hubs are: 

  • SFIU North which covers Grampian, Highland and Islands, and Tayside 
  • SFIU East which covers Central, Fife, and Lothian and Borders 
  • SFIU West which covers Glasgow and Strathkelvin, North and South Strathclyde, and Dumfries and Galloway 

SFIU hubs are open Monday to Thursday 9am – 5pm and Friday 9am – 4.30pm. Outwith these hours, there is an answering machine service where a message can be left. 

SFIU North (Grampian, Highland and Islands, Tayside) 

Email us at  SFIUNorth@copfs.gov.uk
Call: 0300 020 2387 

SFIU East (Central, Fife, Lothian and Borders) 

Email us at SFIUEast@copfs.gov.uk
Call: 0300 020 3702 

SFIU West (Glasgow and Strathkelvin, North and South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway) 

Email us at SFIUWest@copfs.gov.uk 
Call: 0300 020 1798