Seòmar agus comataidhean

The following table details the extradition cases for the last 10 years in which COPFS have been involved.

As at 30 November 2024 the number of procurator fiscals working within specialised units based within the Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal Office is:

3 High Court Sexual Offences

2 High Court Hub

4 Serious Casework group, Scottish fatalities Investigations Unit

1 Serious Casework group, COVID deaths investigation team

1 Local Court Management Team

15 Local Court Sheriff and Jury

11 Local Court Summary

All appeals against conviction, either in summary or solemn procedure, require to be lodged with court and intimated to COPFS.

Not all appeals lodged, either in summary or solemn procedure, pass sift by the court and therefore not all progress to a court hearing to allow the appeal court to determine whether an appeal is upheld or not.

In addition not all appeals lodged are insisted upon by the defence or the crown.

The input of COPFS depends upon the stage of appeal proceedings. This question as currently framed cannot be readily answered by COPFS.

COPFS uses a live, operational database to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies throughout Scotland. It is designed to meet business needs in the processing of criminal cases, rather than for statistical analysis. Any data sought in the last reporting year would encompass cases reported within that period where there were still significant numbers of live charges. As such, any figures would not accurately reflect numbers of convictions in respect of the cases reported in that period.

All appeals against conviction, either in summary or solemn procedure, require to be lodged with court and intimated to COPFS. Not all appeals lodged pass sift and therefore not all progress to a hearing. Equally, not all appeals lodged are insisted upon. The input of COPFS depends upon the stage of appeal proceedings. This question as currently framed cannot be readily answered by COPFS.

Seal licences are not issued on a Local Authority basis. Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team (on behalf of Scottish Ministers) determine applications and issue licences to kill or take seals under Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 for the whole of Scotland. The regional consideration is of the designated Seal Management Areas (SMA), which allow applications to kill or take seals to be balanced against local seal population dynamics and the supporting data provided by the Natural Environment Research Council (Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrew’s University). The data for seals licenced to be killed or taken and the licences subsequently exercised within each SMA is shown in the following table:

In May 2023 CalMac as operator announced that Molgas Energy Uk Ltd would be the supplier of LNG for the MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa. Please see aside link to the CalMac publication: https://corporate.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/news/calmac-award-of-lng-supply-tender/

Legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes, their risk to the public and regulatory standards, is a reserved matter for the UK Government. For an e-bike to be legal for use in the UK, they must meet the criteria of an electrically assisted pedal cycle and the electric motor should not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5mph, with a maximum power output of 250 watts. This ensures speeds similar to that of other bicycles.

In December 2024 Police Scotland issued a media campaign to warn members of the public of the growing trend in illegally modified ebikes and the risk these pose to riders, pedestrians, and other road and path user.

It is every road and path users responsibility to respect others and the Highway Code outlines both rules and guidance for everyone. Members of the public who are seeking clarity on the standards required to ride on public roads should visit https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules

Legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes is a reserved matter for the UK Government. For an e-bike to be legal for use in the UK, they must meet the criteria of an electrically assisted pedal cycle and the electric motor should not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5mph, with a maximum power output of 250 watts. This ensures speeds similar to that of other bicycles.

From January 2024 and the end of September 2024 Police Scotland made 281 seizures of illegal ebikes. In December Police Scotland published advice on ebikes ahead of Christmas that provides clarity on the standards required to be permitted to ride on public roads.

It is every road and path users responsibility to respect others and the Highway Code outlines both rules and guidance for everyone.

Decarbonisation infrastructure works are undertaken by Network Rail, who owns and maintains Scotland’s rail network infrastructure. Network Rail is major employer in Scotland, as are many of its supply chain partners. As recently at October 2024, Network Rail and its key suppliers held a networking event for SMEs keen to learn more about work available across Scotland’s Railway over the next five years.

In relation to the replacement Intercity trains, a transparent and fair procurement process is being held. The procurement process ensures Scottish suppliers will be able to offer to provide their services to potential bidders.