The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has published today the latest 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 September 2022:
- The overall level of new cases registered is 71% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The overall level of cases concluded is 97% of the average pre-COVID level.
- Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 12% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.
- 48 High Court evidence led trials commenced which is 116% of the average pre-COVID level.
- 69 High Court cases were concluded, which is 103% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 46 weeks for High Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.
- 100 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 106% of the average pre-COVID level.
- 479 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 112% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 43 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-COVID level of 11 weeks.
- 474 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 82% of the average pre-COVID levels
- 5088 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 107% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 50 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to the pre-COVID level of 23 weeks.
- 1934 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 76% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 52 weeks for Justice of the Peace, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.
David Fraser, SCTS Executive Director Court Operations said:
“I am delighted to report that the trial backlog has reduced by 10,012 trials since the peak position of 43,606 seen at the start of 2022. This is a significant milestone that demonstrates the sheer impact that the courts recovery programme is having on the backlog created by the Covid-19 pandemic. The statistics also show that the percentage of trials concluded is above pre-COVID levels in the High Court and Sheriff Courts.
“The collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector is helping to effectively manage court business, including the ongoing delivery of the recovery programme. The monthly publication on throughput of cases, combined with the revised modelling reports, illustrate the progress being made and the challenges still ahead.”
The workbook is available at: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics