Scotland
The justice system of Scotland
A separate legal system with one national police service, a prosecution service that also investigates deaths, its own courts and its own prison service.
Facts verified:
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Scotland is one of the three legal systems of the United Kingdom, and the institutions on these pages exist only within it. Section 6 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 — an Act of the Scottish Parliament, shown as extending to Scotland — constitutes the Police Service of Scotland, and the courts, prosecution and prison arrangements are equally its own.
Two features distinguish it sharply from England and Wales. Policing is a single national service rather than dozens of territorial forces. And the prosecution service is also the death investigation authority, which is a combination the other two systems do not have.
The court names are its own too: the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary are together known as the Supreme Courts of Scotland, with Sheriff Courts, the Sheriff Appeal Court and Justice of the Peace Courts beneath them.
Sources
Sources
The National Archives (United Kingdom) · Legislation · link verified 2026-09-18
SCOPE: the constitution of the Police Service of Scotland. The official consolidated text of an Act of the Scottish Parliament, read directly. Supports that the Service consists of a constable holding the office of chief constable, one or more deputy chief constables, one or more assistant chief constables, and other individuals holding the office of constable. The section is shown as extending to Scotland (S). It establishes nothing about the Service's functions or powers, which are in other provisions not read here.
About COPFS — Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Scotland) · Government publication · link verified 2026-09-18
SCOPE: COPFS's own account of its remit. The service's about page, read directly. Supports that it describes itself as “Scotland's prosecution service and death investigation authority”; that death investigations are conducted by COPFS on behalf of the Lord Advocate and cover all sudden, suspicious, accidental and unexplained deaths; and that it has a role in investigating criminal allegations against on-duty police officers. The combination of prosecution, death investigation and police-conduct investigation in one service is what this source establishes; it establishes nothing about how any of them is conducted.
Courts and tribunals — Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service · Government publication · link verified 2026-09-18
SCOPE: which courts exist in Scotland and who administers them. The service's own page, read directly. Supports that the Court of Session, High Court of Justiciary, Sheriff Courts, Sheriff Appeal Court and Justice of the Peace Courts are administered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service; that the High Court of Justiciary and Court of Session are collectively known as the Supreme Courts of Scotland; and that the service is also responsible for the Office of the Public Guardian, the Scottish Tribunals and the Accountant of Court. It establishes nothing about jurisdiction, appeal routes or composition.