The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service quarterly statistical bulletin is published today providing quarterly Official Statistics on criminal case activity in Scotland. This bulletin covers the period of Quarter 1 2021/22 (April-June).
The bulletin contains figures on activity in all High, Sheriff, Justice of the Peace and criminal appeal courts with national trends as well as detailed figures for local courts in solemn and summary criminal business.
The 13th QCC Bulletin shows that despite the challenging conditions due to the pandemic and the lockdown during the early part of 2021, a total of 16,269 cases were concluded in all criminal courts in Q1 2021/22 – an increase of 83% from the previous quarter.
The use of remote jury centres, established across Scotland, enabled jury trials to operate at pre-pandemic levels while Sheriff Court Summary business showed solid progress too.
This issue of the bulletin also contains – for the first time – a breakdown of the crimes and offences being registered across criminal first instance business.
Other highlights include:
- There were 21,550 first instance criminal cases registered in Scottish courts in Q1 2021/22 which is a 15% increase from the number registered in Q4 2020/21.
- The number of trials scheduled has risen 12% to 42,451 when scheduled trials at the end of March 2021 are compared to those still to call as at the end of June 2021. This is mostly attributable to Sheriff Summary business which had to be postponed during lockdowns;
- In Q1 2021/22, there were 14,732 summary complaints concluded which is almost double the volume in Q4 2020/21.
- In Q1 2021/22, domestic abuse cases accounted for 24% of Sheriff Summary registrations; 34% of Sheriff Summary trials called and 44% of Sheriff Summary trials in which evidence was led.
Commenting on the bulletin SCTS Executive Director Court Operations, David Fraser, said: “Our court buildings continue to operate in accordance with guidance from Public Health Scotland to safeguard our staff, judiciary and court users.
“Criminal first instance business is making strong progress due to the excellent collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector which has helped get court business back on track. This will remain crucial during the recovery programme and the anticipated increase in case registrations which are now coming through.
“I am also pleased to be able to include in this bulletin, the new information showing the crimes and offences registered as criminal first instance business which will be of wide public interest and further demonstrates our commitment to openness and transparency around data.”
Notes:
- The QCC bulletin does not cover court cases relating to civil business.
- Trials scheduled is the count of complaints or indictments that have a trial diet assigned but are yet to call in court.