East Division 1 Procurator Fiscal Report for East Centre Area
East Division Item 5
2nd June 2010 Procurator Fiscal
Report for East Centre Area Committee – 2nd June 2010
Profile of Glasgow East Division
Information prepared by:
Procurator Fiscal Office
Liam Murphy Divisional Procurator Fiscal
1 East Division
PROFILE OF GLASGOW ‘EAST’ DIVISION AREA PROCURATOR FISCAL: LESLEY THOMSON AREA BUSINESS MANAGER: BILL COMRIE
DIVISIONAL MANAGEMENT TEAM:-
DIVISIONAL PROCURATOR FISCAL: LIAM MURPHY
DIVISIONAL BUSINESS MANAGER: JACQUI MULLEN
DEPUTY DIVISIONAL PF JOHN SERVICE
PRINCIPAL DEPUTES: BARRY DICKSON IAIN BRADLEY ANGELA FARRELL SHARON MCCRUDDEN
BAND D MANAGER: MARGARET McNEIL
BAND C MANAGERS: ANGELA STEVENSON ANN ASHTON BARBARA MCMAHON GINA MCMANUS
VIA OFFICERS: LAUREN ARCHIBALD
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GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND COMMUNITIES WITHIN COPFS ‘E’ DIVISION
Glasgow North East and East Dunbartonshire Division
The newly designated Glasgow North East and East Dunbartonshire Division consists of five sub divisions, as follows, with Divisional Headquarters located at London Road. The map shows the Police sub Divisions in full. The jurisdiction of the Procurator Fiscal in East Division reflects the map with the exception of the Milngavie area of BF sub Division which goes to the Dumbarton Office.
The new Police Division commenced on 23 October 2007 and formalised an arrangement in the PFs Office that had been operating since April 2007
London Road (BA Sub Division)
This sub-division contains the communities of Calton, Bridgeton, Dalmarnock, Barrowfield, Camlachie, Dennistoun, Riddrie, Cranhill, Carntyne and Haghill.
Nine homeless persons’ hostels and HMP Barlinnie are located in the area. The Forge retail and cinema complex, Celtic Park and the Barras Market also lie within
3 East Division sub-division boundaries along with Glasgow Green, the venue for many large-scale public events such as the World Pipe Band Championships and annual fireworks display.
Baird Street (BC Sub Division)
This sub-division includes Springburn, Sighthill, Barmulloch, Balornock, Royston, Blackhill, Cowlairs, Balgrayhill, Germiston, Robroyston and Millerston. The area has the highest concentration of multi-storey flats in Glasgow and much regeneration with new housing is now underway, with more planned for the future. Two of the main arterial routes through the central belt, the M8 and M80, border the sub-division. Approximately 3,000 asylum seekers reside here and an Asylum Seeker Liaison Unit operates within the sub-division and a policing strategy has been developed to identify support within the community.
In addition, Blochairn Fruit Market, which hosts one of the largest car boot sales/markets in the West of Scotland every Sunday, lies within sub-division boundaries.
Shettleston, Easterhouse and Baillieston (BD Sub Division)
The areas patrolled from the three police offices in this sub-division encompass Parkhead, Tollcross, Mount Vernon, Carmyle, Barlanark, Greenfield, Swinton, Wellhouse, Easthall, Easterhouse, Provanhall, Craigend, Garthamlock, Ruchazie, Garrowhill and Baillieston.
St John’s List D School, Daldowie Crematorium and the Glasgow Fort shopping complex at Auchinlea, which attracts around 12 million shoppers each year, all fall within the sub-division.
Maryhill and Saracen (BE Sub Division)
This sub-division polices the areas of north Glasgow including Maryhill, Kelvinside, Summerston, Cadder, Possilpark, Milton, Lambhill, Ruchill, Parkhouse, East Keppoch, Hamiltonhill, Port Dundas, Woodside and Firhill.
This sub-division contains a portion of the Forth and Clyde Canal, the University of Glasgow Veterinary School and the West of Scotland Science Park.
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East Dunbartonshire (BF Sub Division)
This sub-division polices the East Dunbartonshire Council area, covering Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Lenzie, Milngavie, Milton of Campsie, Lennoxtown, Torrance, Twechar and some smaller semi-rural towns and villages. Policing is carried out from offices in Kirkintilloch, Milngavie and Bishopbriggs.
A significant section of the Forth and Clyde Canal runs through the area, including directly through Kirkintilloch town centre. Kenmure St. Mary’s residential secure unit is also located in the sub-division.
STRATHCLYDE POLICE
Divisional Commander – Wayne Mawson Glasgow Police B Division commenced operations in October 2007. The information obtained for the period 1 April 2009 – 31 March 2010 show that there were 734 violent crimes. The same period shows that there were 13 murders in the division.
CRIME TRENDS
Police Target to report 80% of cases with in 28 days
The Glasgow target compliance up to December 2009 is currently standing at 91%.
Glasgow / Division Information
The division no longer deals with High Court cases as a specialised division has been set up to take these cases forward. The High Court Division is split into 3 teams – Homicide, Sexual Offences and Serious crime. These teams deal with all aspects of the cases and are experts in these areas.
Glasgow East Division now has responsibility for all Sexual Offences cases being prosecuted at Sheriff and Jury level. The level of expertise for High court cases has now been taken to forward to ensure that the specialisation encapsulates all cases relating to Sexual Offences at this level.
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A dedicated Domestic Abuse Team has also been established with a team of experienced members of staff who work closely with the police and the group ASSIST. This team deals with all cases relating to domestic violence and follow them from reporting stage right through until conclusion.
REPORTS SUBMITTED
The monthly average of reports submitted stands at 1,743. Since the commencement of the new division the trend has shown that the level of police reports submitted per annum is approaching 25,000.
Number of Criminal Reports Received by COPFS
Glasgow 69425: East Division 24,454. These figures have been taken from April 2009 to March 2010.
Summary Cases
We have a robust approach to Summary cases to ensure workload is placed in the appropriate court. There is extensive use of Stipendiary magistrates and District courts.
In relation to Sheriff Court trials, we are striving to achieve the joint target currently in place by introducing rotas that enable the Deputes to prepare well in advance of the intermediate and trial diets.
COPFS Published Target Compliance – YEAR TO DATE
Take and Implement target is 75% within 4 weeks.
Glasgow Area 80% with East Division at 78%.
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Solemn Cases
Net Petitions for the period April 2009 – March 2010
Glasgow received 1,947 petitions once reductions to Summary are taken into account; this is a decrease of 3% compared to last year. East Division accounts for 710 petitions.
Precognitions to CO
Glasgow produced 1,566 precognitions with East Division producing 523 precognitions.
Bail Cases Target compliance Year to Date
Target for High Court – 80% in 9 months Actual achieved: Glasgow 92%, East Division 91%
Target for Sh & Jury – 80% in 9 months Actual achieved: Glasgow 88%, East Division 88%
VICTIM INFORMATION AND ADVICE
For the year to date an average of 162 referrals per month have been received. The VIA unit deal with all summary cases under the categories – Sexual, Domestic, Additional Needs, Racial, Religious and Child Witnesses. They also deal with all petition cases excluding drugs.
LIAISON WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS
Police
Senior Managers from Police B Division and PF East Division meet every two months.
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There are a number of joint initiatives with the police and other partners and stakeholders:
Persistent Offenders:
A Protocol has been agreed as to how the police and Procurator Fiscal agree which offenders are to be targeted and how their cases will be processed. The protocol and action taken are reviewed regularly at Police Liaison Meetings
Child Protection Committee:
Principal Deputes in the Child Witness Unit attend the multi agency CPC in Glasgow, which occur on a bi monthly basis.
Considerable expertise has been built up in dealing with children in such matters and in relation to liaison with the Family Protection Unit.
Serious Crime:
There are monthly meetings of this Sub-Group. The Sub-Group considers ways of improving work practices in the investigation and reporting of serious crimes in terms of the Serious Crime Protocol, which has been agreed with Strathclyde Police and the Strathclyde COPFS Areas.
Racist Crime:
Is dealt with personally by the Divisional Procurator Fiscal. The Division has four representatives who sit on the Area’s Diversity Team. The Team oversees all action relating to race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and religion and belief. The remit of the Team is to liaise and improve contacts with local communities and to discuss ways of maintaining that across all areas of diversity in Glasgow
COPFS and Police “Practitioners” Group:
Barry Dickson Principal Depute, Jacqui Mullen Divisional Business Manager and their supporting managers from the Summary Proceedings Unit attend this Sub- Group. The last meeting was held in August. The Sub-Group is considering case
8 East Division reporting, citation of witnesses, disclosure for summary cases, countermands, vulnerable witnesses, productions and police/COPFS correspondence.
Other Initiatives
x Glasgow Drug Court The drug court in Glasgow is now a permanent court. It continues to attract a great deal of favourable media attention. The Court has also attracted interest from Criminal Justice Practitioners from overseas jurisdictions. The court provides an alternative approach to dealing with accused with drug problems.
x Knife Crime There is a substantial amount of knife crime within the Division, which has resulted in an increase in the level of solemn business. Since the introduction of the new policy guidance there has been close and regular liaison with the police and monitoring of the quality of reports.
x Anti Sectarian Initiatives There is close ongoing liaison with the police in relation to marches and incidents at football games. It requires that individuals arrested at such events are reported to us by undertaking or custody and that COPFS asks the court to impose special bail conditions. There is a rigorous enforcement policy by the police because of the sectarian tensions caused by the presence in the Division of Celtic Football Club and the various groupings associated with sectarian behaviour. East Division has the highest report rate for sectarian breaches of the peace in Strathclyde. Two Principal Deputes regularly attend at Parkhead to shadow the police and to assess handling of major events.
x Barras There is liaison with the Police, British Phonographic Industry, Federation Against Copyright Theft and Trading Standards. There has been considerable cooperation which has resulted in a number of successful prosecutions. Children involved as runners for the gangs have been reported to the Reporter.
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x ASBO’s All the local housing organisations within the Division have been contacted and advised about the service that we provide. A protocol has been agreed.
CIRV – COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO REDUCE VIOLENCE
This is a community initiative which operates on a wholly voluntary basis. The project is based on an initiative from the USA. This group looks at identifying gang members and invites them to attend for sessions where they can see the impact of their offending.
COPFS DIVERSION SCHEME
The objective of this scheme is to obtain, in a case in which prosecution would otherwise be justified, a disposal that has regard to the personal circumstances of the accused. The diversion scheme runs for people who may need assistance from a specialised group but who have no access to same without our intervention.
Other Agencies
x MARIM The Divisional Fiscal, or his representative, attends the meetings of both MARIMs in the Division. The meetings take place bi-monthly. He is accompanied by a VIA officer and together they provide valuable information and updated progress on the cases reported to the PF.
x Reporter to the Children’s Panel A Principal Depute from the Division meets with the Reporter on a regular basis. A protocol has been agreed to ensure cases are dealt with promptly. It is likely that this protocol will be rolled out across the other Divisions.
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STAFFING
There are over 71 members of staff in Glasgow East Division. The Division is further divided into 5 Units noted below, with the number of staff allocated to each Unit recorded;
Management Unit 5
Initial Case Processing 15
Summary Proceedings 19
Sheriff & Jury 28
VIA 4
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