Procurator fiscal

Common card · No. 431062

A procurator fiscal (pl. procurators fiscal), sometimes called PF or fiscal (Scottish Gaelic: Neach-casaid a' Chrùin), is a public prosecutor in Scotland. The fiscal also investigates all sudden and suspicious deaths in Scotland (similar to a coroner in common law systems) and conducts fatal accident inquiries (a form of inquest unique to the Scottish legal system). They handle criminal complaints against the police (administrative complaints are handled by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner). Crimes and offences are reported to them by the Police or by specialist reporting agencies such as His Majesty's Revenue and Customs. For the majority of crimes in Scotland, the procurators fiscal present cases for the prosecution in the sheriff and justice of the peace courts (and formerly district courts), and the case for the defence is presented either by the accused, a solicitor, or an advocate. The solicitor will work for a firm of solicitors, or in certain areas of Scotland could...

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