Scottish Spending Review 2026
The Scottish Spending Review 2026 sets out the Scottish Government's indicative spending plans up to 2028-29 for resource, and up to 2029-30 for capital.
Chapter 15 Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is Scotland’s sole public prosecution authority. It prosecutes cases independently, fairly and effectively in the public interest and investigates sudden, unexplained or suspicious deaths and allegations of criminal conduct by police officers. This work helps keep Scotland safe from crime, disorder and danger.
Funding and resource levels for 2026-27 to 2028-29 reflect conclusion of time-limited funding and assumes no significant changes to volume and complexity of casework. Through transformation work, COPFS aims to improve services to victims, witnesses and bereaved relatives and reduce case journey times. COPFS also delivers efficiency savings to absorb the costs of new initiatives such as body-worn video evidence.
Capital funding supports COPFS to rationalise its estate ensuring value for money and alignment with the Scottish Government’s Single Scottish Estate programme.
These initiatives support the Scottish Government priorities of delivering high quality public services and meeting statutory obligations whilst supporting Scottish Government’s Public Service Reform Strategy.
COPFS continues to make significant strides in improving casework outcomes, enhancing service delivery, and reducing case backlogs. COPFS works with justice partners to transform, innovate, and deliver sustainable improvements to public services. This includes Summary Case Management, which achieves swifter outcomes for victims, witnesses, and the accused. COPFS is dedicated to placing victims and witnesses at the heart of its efforts to provide a trauma-informed service. Throughout 2026, COPFS will secure benefits from the national implementation of the digital Witness Gateway and Defence Agent Service and expand the use of the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability to more cases.
COPFS spending plans aim to ensure a just, safe, and resilient Scotland where equality and opportunity enable everyone to reach their potential and contribute fully to society.
| Level 2 |
2026-27 £m |
2027-28 £m |
2028-29 £m |
2029-30 Capital & FT £m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COPFS | 248.6 | 246.8 | 245.3 | – |
| Total COPFS | 248.6 | 246.8 | 245.3 | – |
| of which | – | – | – | – |
| Total Fiscal Resource | 237.6 | 233.6 | 231.1 | n/a |
| of which Programme Costs | 237.6 | 233.6 | 231.1 | n/a |
| of which Operating Costs | – | – | – | n/a |
| Capital | 11.0 | 13.2 | 14.2 | 13.2 |
| Financial Transactions (FTs) | – | – | – | – |