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New Procurator Fiscal And Depute Start On Monday 31 January In Wick
Mr Alasdair MacDonald has been appointed by the Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC to the post of Procurator Fiscal for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross. Mr MacDonald will take up his post on the 31 January 2005.

Mr MacDonald will retain his commission for Tain and Dornoch where he is currently District Procurator Fiscal and will be supported at Wick by a newly appointed Depute Fiscal, Mrs Christine Ball, who will also take up post on 31 January 2005.

The Lord Advocate said:
"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Alasdair MacDonald as Procurator Fiscal for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross. Having been the Procurator Fiscal at Wick from 1992 to 1997, Alasdair is very familiar with the area. He is a highly experienced member of the department who will work with local criminal justice partners to tackle crime and improve the service that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service delivers to local communities.

"I am also pleased to be able to announce the appointment of new Depute Fiscal, Christine Ball. Christine is an experienced solicitor, well known and respected in the local community and is a welcome addition to the Highlands and Islands team. Mrs Ball has previous experience in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as she has previously acted as an honorary Procurator Fiscal Depute and I am pleased that she will soon be able to provide this service to the public in a permanent capacity. I would like to welcome Christine to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and wish her every success in her new post. "

Congratulating both Christine and Alasdair on their appointment, Area Procurator Fiscal Andrew Laing said:
"This is a particularly exciting time to be taking up a new post within the Highlands and Islands area, as we are increasingly engaging with criminal justice partners to ensure that we provide a seamless, efficient service to local communities. We are also getting the most from our resources through intelligent use of technology. Digital dictation software is being used across the Highlands and Islands area, allowing flexible working. In addition, we are looking at the possibility of investing in video conferencing equipment across the area to allow further flexibility in working practices."Note to Editors

Biography
Alasdair MacDonald, a native of Sutherland was educated at Golspie High School and Aberdeen University. He joined COPFS in 1979 and has worked in Aberdeen, Crown Office, Elgin and Haddington. He was previously the Procurator Fiscal at Wick for 5 years between 1992 and 1997 and has been Procurator Fiscal for Tain and Dornoch since 1997.

Mrs Christine Ball was educated at Grangemouth High School and attended at the University of Strathclyde. She was an apprentice and assistant Solicitor in Edinburgh where she met her husband and they moved to Wick in 1981. They have one son. She has been in private practice in Caithness since then. She was an honorary PF for a number of years in Wick and has been an honorary Sheriff since 2000. She also prepares reports on residence and contact for children at the request of the Sheriff.