A new “cold case” unit to investigate unsolved murders such as Fifer Sandy Drummond who was killed 20 years ago this month is to be created.
Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland said the specialist unit would support prosecutors and police in reviewing unsolved crimes from across the country which they believe merit fresh investigation.
“Justice will pursue down the years those who have so far evaded detection for their crimes,” he said. “The passage of time should be no protection.
“We will not give up and will seek to identify the perpetrator using new forensic and other investigation techniques and prosecute them for their crimes,” he added.
“No one should escape the consequences of their criminality and the grief this brings to victims and their families.
“Our specialist unit will work with local prosecutors and the police to identify unsolved murders for renewed investigation.
The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and the Scottish Police Services Association welcomed the creation of the unit.
Strathclyde Police Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton, secretary of the ACPOS crime business area, said, “I welcome this significant commitment which builds upon existing local arrangements.
“Through scientific advancement and re-interviewing of witnesses, positive progress has been made in recent years in bringing some unresolved matters to a successful conclusion.
“The introduction of this national unit will further assist and support both the investigation and prosecution of unresolved matters which continue to impact significantly on those families and communities directly affected.”
Tom Nelson, director of the Scottish Police Services Authority forensic services, said improvements in forensic science could be key to cracking previously unsolvable crimes.
He said, “Rapid advances in forensic techniques have changed the parameters of forensic science dramatically.
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“Technological advancements such as improved ballistics and fingerprint databases and DNA techniques means we are able to revisit material obtained from the original investigation providing officers with a new avenue to investigate that could be the key to unlocking a cold case.”
There are more than 70 unsolved murders in Scotland but Mr Drummond’s death is the only outstanding case in Fife.
The 33-year-old was found dead on Monday, June 24, 1991, on a farm track near his home, an isolated cottage near St Andrews he shared with his brother Jimmy.
Over the four days before his murder, he withdrew several sums of money from his accounts, most of which was found in his house. On the Friday before his death, he rang Guardbridge Paper Mill where he worked to say he was resigning and refused to work his week’s notice.
Dundee’s most famous unsolved murders are those of Carol Lannen and Elizabeth McCabe, whose bodies were dumped in Templeton Woods.
Ms Lannen’s body was found in 1979 and Ms McCabe’s a year later.
Former taxi driver Vincent Simpson was tried for Ms McCabe’s murder at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2007 but was cleared after an eight-week trial.