New laws to modernise the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) process have been passed by the Scottish Parliament.
The Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Bill includes:
In addition, the UK Government has agreed, in principle, for mandatory FAIs to be held into the deaths of service personnel in Scotland. This could not be included in the Bill as it relates to defence, which is reserved to the UK Government.
The Crown Office will also introduce a family liaison charter, to stand alongside the Bill, to keep bereaved families fully informed of the progress of a death investigation and the likelihood of criminal proceedings or a fatal accident inquiry.