SCTS News

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has published today the eleventh monthly workbook to show the throughput of criminal cases in our courts.

This shows the volumes of cases being progressed each month in the High Court, Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Courts from April 2020, compared against the monthly averages for 2019/20 (pre-COVID).

The figures show that during July 2021:

• The overall level of new cases registered is 77% of the average monthly pre-COVID level.
• Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 21% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.
• 48 High Court evidence led trials commenced, which is 14% higher than the average pre-COVID level.
• 58 High Court cases were concluded, which is 86% of the average pre-COVID level.
• 76 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 80% of the average pre-COVID level.
• 453 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 105% of the average pre-COVID level.
• 408 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 70% of the average  pre-COVID levels
• 4446 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 93% of the average pre-COVID level.
• 3032 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 19% higher than the average pre-COVID level. 

David Fraser, SCTS Executive Director Court Operations said:

“Our court buildings continue to operate in accordance with guidance from Public Health Scotland to safeguard our staff, judiciary and court users.

“Jury trials in the High Court and Sheriff Courts are running at pre-COVID capacity following the successful introduction of remote jury centres.

“Having restarted Justice of the Peace Courts trials on 7 June, we have already reached 119% of pre-Covid levels and Summary throughput at the Sheriff Courts also shows a return to 93% of pre-Covid levels.

“The excellent collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector has helped get court business back on track and this remains crucial in planning for the recovery programme commencing in September. We will continue to publish these figures on a monthly basis to illustrate the progress we are making and the challenges still being faced.”