The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has published today the latest monthly workbook to show the throughput of criminal cases in our courts.
Monthly Workbook
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).
Due to fewer court days being programmed during the December festive period, comparisons with the pre-COVID monthly average are lower.
The figures show that during December 2023:
- The overall level of new cases registered is 73% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The overall level of cases concluded is 75% of the average pre-COVID level.
- Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 2% lower than the average monthly pre-COVID level.
- 32 High Court evidence led trials commenced which is 77% of the average pre-COVID level.
- 61 High Court cases were concluded, which is 91% 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.
- 67 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 71% of the average pre-COVID level.
- 466 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 96% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 41 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-COVID level of 11 weeks.
- 406 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 70% of the average pre-COVID levels
- 4,381 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 85% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 40 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to the pre-COVID level of 23 weeks.
- 1,430 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 52% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 30 weeks for Justice of the Peace, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.
David Fraser, SCTS Executive Director Court Operations said:
“Given the significant reduction in summary trials backlog we switched court recovery resources from Summary to Solemn, with the introduction of a further 2 additional High Court and 6 additional Sheriff Solemn trial courts. Solemn cases, which involve the most serious crimes, are more challenging as the long term trend of increasing case levels continued throughout the pandemic. The report published today continues to show the impact of the additional trial courts as throughput for solemn business remains high.
"Strong collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector is helping to effectively manage court business, this remains important now that the solemn recovery programme has been extended.”
The workbook is available at: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics