Latest news with #CrownOfficeandProcuratorFiscalService
STV News
13 hours ago
- STV News
Fatal accident inquiry to be held into death of hotel worker who fell through roof
A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) will investigate the death of a hotel receptionist who fell through a roof in Dundee. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a First Notice to begin court processes into the death of Garry Anderson at a Premier Inn Hotel in Kingsway West. The 62-year-old receptionist died on August 24, 2023 from injuries suffered after falling through a panel on a walkway roof at the hotel two days prior. A preliminary hearing has been set for July 31, 2025 at Dundee Sheriff Court. The purpose of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances. Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame. Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for COPFS, said: 'The death of Garry Anderson occurred while in the course of his employment and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory. 'The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff. 'Mr Anderson's family will continue to be kept informed of significant developments as court proceedings progress.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
21 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
FAI launched into death of receptionist Gerry Anderson at Premier Inn
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a First Notice to begin the court process for the FAI to take place. FAIs are held to work out what happened in the case of an accidental death and prevent similar tragedies. They do not apportion blame. READ MORE: COPFS said in a statement: 'The purpose of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Disability attacks increase despite hate crime being down overall
The statistics are the first to includes crimes under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, which came into force on April 1 last year. Overall, there were 6,019 hate crimes recorded in 2024-25 – down 1.2% on the year before. But charges aggravated by disability rose by 15% to 1,069 – the highest annual number recorded since the legislation creating the aggravation came into force in 2010. Recorded hate crime against disabled people has risen consistently since the start of the last decade. Race continued to be the most commonly reported hate crime in Scotland, with 3,357 such charges being recorded over the last year. The figure, accounting for 55% of hate crimes, represents a decrease of 2.2% compared to the year before. Read More Hate crimes over sexual orientation, the second most common type, decreased by 8.7% to 1,699 – the lowest number of charges since 2020. Religious hate crime charges also decreased by 5.1% to 505, the lowest annual number since 2004. Hate crime charges against transgender people were down by one to 86. There were 88 charges related to age and 13 related to variations in sex characteristics, both of which are new aggravators included in the Hate Crime Act. There were 27 charges of stirring up hatred relating to race and another 65 for stirring up hatred against 'other protected characteristics' – both new charges under the Act. The Lord Advocate, Scotland's top law officer, urged the public to be vigilant over hate crime. Dorothy Bain KC said hate-fuelled crime continued to be a blight on Scotland's communities and urged the public to report any incidents to the police. She said: 'There is no room for complacency in our response to – and recognition of – hate crime. 'Last year, prosecutors at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) received reports with more than 6,000 charges fuelled by hatred and targeted at people who are simply being themselves. 'Today's publication highlights the shameful prejudice which persists and – in relation to those affected by disability – has been exposed in increasing numbers. 'Those of us who wish to live in a tolerant society find this abhorrent. Hate crime has hugely damaging effects on victims, their families and the wider community. 'COPFS will play its part in helping to make Scotland a safer place by prosecuting robustly those who victimise others through their own ignorance or bigotry.' Scottish Conservative Tory MSP Liam Kerr said: 'These figures reveal Humza Yousaf's Hate Crime Act for what it is – a completely unnecessary law that's a drain on police resources. 'We repeatedly warned that this bad law was unworkable and would lead to the police having to deal with a slew of spurious complaints. 'The relatively small number of charges being brought appears to bear this out. 'Instead of asking the police to continually enforce flawed legislation, SNP ministers should prioritise funding our police force so they can properly keep our communities safe.'
Powys County Times
05-06-2025
- Powys County Times
Man who baited birds of prey with rat poison in landowner feud sentenced
A man who baited birds of prey with pheasants coated in rat poison has been ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work. Clive Burgoyne, 38, of Forfar in Angus, left four pheasant carcasses gutted and filled with rat poison as part of an ongoing feud with a neighbouring landowner over shooting rights. He hoped his actions would cause reputational damage to the Guynd estate near Arbroath, Angus, according to prosecutors. At Forfar Sheriff Court on April 22, Burgoyne pleaded guilty to a breach of wildlife legislation between January and February 2023. The court heard he left four pheasant carcasses coated in rodenticide which would cause haemorrhaging, in a bid to harm birds of prey. On Thursday at the same court, he was given a community payback order and 135 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said. Prosecutors said he put birds of prey 'at risk of injury or death' using a known rat poison which can kill a bird of prey in a single feed. Prosecutors told how witnesses saw Burgoyne in the front passenger seat of a car travelling towards, and later away, from the Guynd estate on the morning of February 3, 2023. A short time later, an estate worker discovered a dead pheasant on a footpath within the estate, COPFS said. The breast had been removed and the bird was covered in a quantity of grain and seed which was then coated in a bright blue liquid. A further search of the area revealed three more dead pheasants nearby which had been similarly cut open and treated, according to COPFS. Analysis carried out by officials at the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture confirmed the blue grain was a known rodenticide formulation. They believed the appearance of the pheasant carcasses suggested they had been prepared and set out with the intention of causing harm to birds. After being arrested, a sample of Burgoyne's DNA was found on all four of the dead birds. Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife and environmental crime at COPFS, said: 'It is highly important to preserve Scotland's natural heritage, including the wildlife that forms part of it. 'As such, wild birds are given strict protection by our law. 'Clive Burgoyne's reckless actions put various wildlife, particularly birds of prey, at risk of injury and death. 'COPFS takes offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act seriously and will prosecute individuals where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the public interest to do so. 'The result in this case is a testament to the collaborative working between COPFS, Police Scotland, and Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, who in this case were able to provide vital forensic evidence.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man who baited birds of prey with rat poison in landowner feud sentenced
A man who baited birds of prey with pheasants coated in rat poison has been ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work. Clive Burgoyne, 38, of Forfar in Angus, left four pheasant carcasses gutted and filled with rat poison as part of an ongoing feud with a neighbouring landowner over shooting rights. He hoped his actions would cause reputational damage to the Guynd estate near Arbroath, Angus, according to prosecutors. At Forfar Sheriff Court on April 22, Burgoyne pleaded guilty to a breach of wildlife legislation between January and February 2023. The court heard he left four pheasant carcasses coated in rodenticide which would cause haemorrhaging, in a bid to harm birds of prey. On Thursday at the same court, he was given a community payback order and 135 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said. Prosecutors said he put birds of prey 'at risk of injury or death' using a known rat poison which can kill a bird of prey in a single feed. Prosecutors told how witnesses saw Burgoyne in the front passenger seat of a car travelling towards, and later away, from the Guynd estate on the morning of February 3, 2023. A short time later, an estate worker discovered a dead pheasant on a footpath within the estate, COPFS said. The breast had been removed and the bird was covered in a quantity of grain and seed which was then coated in a bright blue liquid. A further search of the area revealed three more dead pheasants nearby which had been similarly cut open and treated, according to COPFS. Analysis carried out by officials at the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture confirmed the blue grain was a known rodenticide formulation. They believed the appearance of the pheasant carcasses suggested they had been prepared and set out with the intention of causing harm to birds. After being arrested, a sample of Burgoyne's DNA was found on all four of the dead birds. Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife and environmental crime at COPFS, said: 'It is highly important to preserve Scotland's natural heritage, including the wildlife that forms part of it. 'As such, wild birds are given strict protection by our law. 'Clive Burgoyne's reckless actions put various wildlife, particularly birds of prey, at risk of injury and death. 'COPFS takes offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act seriously and will prosecute individuals where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the public interest to do so. 'The result in this case is a testament to the collaborative working between COPFS, Police Scotland, and Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, who in this case were able to provide vital forensic evidence.'
