FAQs

No. HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland is not able to investigate complaints about COPFS. Our role is to inspect the prosecution service generally rather than focusing on individual cases. If you have a complaint about the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service or any member of its staff, please contact COPFS directly: Make a complaint to COPFS (external link)

Yes. HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland is independent from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution acts independently of any other person in exercising the statutory duties conferred on her. For more information please visit our What we do page.

Yes. HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland welcomes input from the public and professionals when carrying out inspection work. Please visit our Inspection programme to see what we are currently working on and if you would like to get in touch, please complete our Contact form

HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution in Scotland decides the inspection programme on the basis of risk and intelligence, and following consultation with the Law Officers, COPFS and stakeholders. It is also possible for the Lord Advocate to refer a matter to the Chief Inspector for inspection. For more information on current and future inspections, please visit our Inspection programme page.

You can now be notified by email when we publish an inspection report or to be updated with other key developments. To sign up for alerts, submit your email address on our Sign up for alerts page.

There is no legal obligation on COPFS to implement our recommendations. However, in response to recommendations, COPFS provides HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution in Scotland with an action plan. IPS engages with COPFS to discuss report findings, recommendations, proposed actions, prioritisation and the evidence that might be gathered to show progress on implementation of recommendations. IPS may also decide to carry out a follow-up inspection. For more information on action plans please see Types of inspections on the What we do page.

HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland sometimes carries out follow-up inspections in order to assess the progress COPFS make in implementing our recommendations. For more information on follow-up inspections please see Types of inspections on the What we do page.

HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland has five staff members comprising HM Chief Inspector, Assistant Inspector of Prosecution, Legal Inspector, Business Inspector and a Personal Assistant. For more information and to view our staff profiles please visit our Who we are page.