14,000 little bits of trouble to be exact. Because that's how many unresolved cases they've got in their current backlog.
A recent report in the Sunday Post newspaper revealed that the number of cases still to be 'marked' (i.e. decided on) has rocketed by more than two-thirds in recent years. These figures include 600 allegations of serious assault and attempted murder, 500 rape and other sexual crimes, 1,800 drug offences, over 5,000 cases of theft, and nearly 2,000 allegations of fraud.
That's one helluva backlog.
Brian McConnachie QC blames a lack of staff at the COPFS and says: "The statistics would appear to suggest there is insufficient staff to mark cases" and that "serious matters to be dealt with in the sheriff court, are simply no longer prosecuted."
Donald Findlay QC on the other hand blames the Scottish Government and says the government "just doesn’t care" because there are "no votes in it". He also reckons "the series of incompetents who have been so-called justice minister beggars belief."
But there's another reason why the Crown Office have found themselves in this incredible mess.
I believe that this backlog of cases has mounted up primarily because corrupt Procurator Fiscals up and down the country - in cahoots with their good buddies at untrustworthy Police Scotland - have spent most of their time in recent years going after the "low hanging fruit" instead of the bigger criminals.
Let me give you a couple of examples. Everybody knows that Police Scotland spend a large part of their time targeting otherwise law-abiding members of the public such as motorists because they are easy targets. The average driver who gets stopped and charged by the police usually takes it on the chin without protest. He's an easy target so helps police boost their arrest/charge figures. You could probably charge and convict 1000 drivers in the time it takes to catch and convict one burglar. You get the idea.
Another section of our society police like to target are those living in the poorest areas in the most poverty stricken circumstances. The most vulnerable people in our society are like a magnet to Police Scotland and the COPFS. They are easy to arrest/charge and easy to convict in court because they lack the education, articulation, and money required to properly defend themselves.
Walk in to any court in Scotland on any day of the week and I guarantee you'll see nothing but jeans, teeshirts, tracksuits, and scrunchies in the dock. You could be forgiven for thinking wealthy, middle-class, educated, and articulate people don't commit crimes because you certainly don't see too many of them in the Scottish courts (and if you do see a suit and tie in the dock it'll most likely be be a motorist). Nuff said.
For years this punitive and unfair justice system of preying on the weak, vulnerable, and otherwise law-abiding citizens has a worked a treat for untrustworthy Police Scotland and their masters at the corrupt COPFS.
For years they have strived to get as many arrests and court convictions as possible on the record just so they can falsely claim to the Scottish public that they're doing a wonderful job of keeping us all safe.
In reality all they've done is clog up the entire legal system and let murderers and rapists roam free while they prosecute some wee insignificant guy from the local council estate for being drunk in charge of a fish supper.
But now we see the chickens coming home to roost.
14,000 of them as it happens.
But there's more. Much more. It gets worse.
You see, all those otherwise law-abiding motorists who were charged with minor motoring offences now hate the police and the crown office for making them in to criminals. The next time that motorist sees a police officer in trouble and in need of help, he'll look the other way. One day when the PF needs that motorist to be a rock-solid, fine, upstanding witness for a court case, he'll refuse and tell the PF where to go.
Then there's the thousands of young kids, now all grown up and in their 30's and 40's, respectable pillars of society, happily married with good jobs, nice houses, and lovely families. They will not lift a finger to help the police or the crown office because they vividly remember the days when they were teenagers and police constantly bullied and harassed them using all those dodgy stop and search powers.
Police Scotland and the COPFS don't realise that you reap what you sow in this life. That's why many good, decent, law-abiding members of the Scottish public look the other way when the police and the crown office ask them for help.
So now we have a COPFS backlog of 14,000 cases (and rising). The whole COPFS system is falling apart and they only have themselves to blame.
But don't hold your breath waiting for the COPFS to admit they've brought all this chaos on themselves.
Oh no, they'll never accept the blame for their failings. Never. It's always someone else's fault - the government, a lack of funding, staff shortages, the Scottish weather, midges, Brexit, the Loch Ness monster, early haggis shooting season, big boys did it and ran away - take your pick.
Nope, it'll never be their fault, they'll never, ever blame themselves, I can guarantee that.
Yes folks, welcome to the world of the COPFS, a thoroughly corrupt organisation from top to bottom, run by the biggest bunch of oddballs, misfits, and failed lawyers you'll ever see who would never cut it out there in private practice.
No wonder it's in such dissaray.
https://www.scottishlegal.com/article/prosecutors-face-unresolved-backlog-of-14-000-cases