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).
The figures show that during October 2023:
- The overall level of new cases registered is 90% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The overall level of cases concluded is 96% of the average pre-COVID level.
- Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 8% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.
- 60 High Court evidence led trials commenced which is 145% of the average pre-COVID level.
- 94 High Court cases were concluded, which is 140% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 39 weeks for High Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.
- 116 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 123% of the average pre-COVID level.
- 740 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 152% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 42 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-COVID level of 11 weeks.
- 452 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 78% of the average pre-COVID levels
- 5574 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 108% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 39 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to the pre-COVID level of 23 weeks.
- 1736 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 63% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 45 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.
“Since Feb 2023, the Sheriff Courts have continued to receive a higher demand for summary trials than was modelled. While the October data shows the number of Sheriff Court Summary scheduled trials has reduced for the first time this year, we will continue to review options should the higher demand for summary trials be maintained.
“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