Supply of Toxicology Services

The Lord Advocate through the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has responsibility in Scotland for the prosecution of crime in Scotland and the investigation of sudden or suspicious deaths which require further investigation. As part of the process of investigating deaths, the Procurator Fiscal may, in order to establish the cause and mechanism of death, instruct post-mortem examinations at specified mortuaries. As part of the post-mortem process, the Pathologists may require toxicological analysis in order to assist with the determination of the cause of death. COPFS currently contracts with Glasgow University (the University) of these post-mortem toxicological services for the whole of Scotland (excluding Aberdeenshire and the Highlands). The University is currently working through a transition process as agreed with COPFS and Scottish Government leading to the transfer of this service to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) effective from 1st December 2022. As part of that transition process the University is required to engage closely with SPA to successfully implement the transition and to establish the new laboratory facilities. As a consequence, there will be periods when the University is not able to fully engage with operational service delivery and therefore service provision will require to be supplemented and supported.