The overhaul was detailed by Lord Advocate Colin Boyd, on Monday, who said the measures were designed to improve public confidence in the services as well as the quality of delivery.

A management review was commissioned by the Lord Advocate in September last year and was completed last week.

The measures announced, in Hamilton, by the Lord Advocate included:

• The creation of a new chief executive post and the immediate appointment of Robert Gordon from the Scottish Executive to take up that role

• The recruitment of more prosecutors

• Significant strengthening of management and administrative support across the organisation

• An improved management structure to provide more support to front-line staff

• Enhanced IT services to remove some of the burden from staff

• Strengthening other central services such as finance and personnel

• Reorganisation of the service areas.

Mr Boyd said: "The management review I commissioned in September paints a picture of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as an organisation where people are working extremely hard, with the best intentions, but are confronting intolerable pressures due to an out-dated management structure and a need for more resources."