Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
22 May 2008
SOLICITOR GENERAL WELCOMES "NATURAL JUSTICE" REPORT
The Solicitor General, Frank Mulholland QC today welcomed the joint report "Natural Justice" prepared by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) and the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland (IPS).
The report found that the prosecution service had a "sound system for managing wildlife crime" with a network of specialist wildlife prosecutors across Scotland. It made 10 recommendations directly affecting the prosecution service, 4 of these have already been implemented, and action is being taken to implement the remaining 6 in full.
Mr Mulholland said:
"I am grateful to the Inspectors for their careful and detailed report on the arrangements for the prevention, investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime in Scotland.
"The Lord Advocate and I welcome this report, and will work with police forces across Scotland, and with other relevant agencies, to ensure that its recommendations are implemented in full.
"We have a duty to ensure that Scotland's rich and diverse natural heritage is protected, and I am determined that the prosecution service will provide a powerful and effective challenge to those who commit crimes against wildlife."
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