News In Focus
8 February 2010
Linlithgow fiscal's office moves to Livingston
The Lord Advocate today officially opened the new procurator fiscal’s office in Livingston.
District Procurator Fiscal Adrian Cottam accompanied Elish Angiolini QC, the Lord Advocate, at the ceremony, at the West Lothian Civic Centre.
Transferring from Linlithgow to the new purpose-built civic centre – the largest centre of its type in the UK – sees COPFS sharing a building with other local partner agencies including the police, Scottish Court Service, fire service, and West Lothian Council.
Opening the building, the Lord Advocate said: “This excellent new facility gives the District Procurator Fiscal and his team a modern working environment, and will allow them to continue to work with the police and local authority to give the people of West Lothian the safe community that they deserve.”
Facilities
Mr Cottam and his team now benefit from an open plan office, including a customer reception, interview rooms for witnesses, conference facilities, and improved storage facilities.
Prosecution staff have access to a range of new facilities on hand, including six courtrooms with new audio visual systems and new IT facilities, which enhance the way cases are presented to juries. There are also improved facilities for vulnerable witnesses.
Mr Cottam said the community was already benefiting from the move. “We are delighted with the new facilities which we have here in the West Lothian Civic Centre,” he said.
“The first few months have been exciting and challenging and we are already seeing a real improvement in the way we work in the office and with other agencies.”