News In Focus
10 March 2006
"Low morale" among fiscals
A survey of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has uncovered a culture of fear and low morale.
The report released yesterday stated Scotland's procurators fiscal are working in a culture of fear and low morale that is damaging progress in improving the workings of the courts.
It found 25% of staff had been subjected to intimidation, humiliation, bullying or harassment.
Fiscals complained they felt "devalued" and afraid to speak out about the pressure they were under to implement improvements demanded by the Scottish Executive.
The independent survey commissioned by COPFS also found that fiscals believed they were treated as inferior and paid less than lawyers drafting policy for the Executive.
More than a third of staff reported regular or constant stress.