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 May 2022:
- The overall level of new cases registered is 87% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The overall level of cases concluded is 112% of the average pre-COVID level.
- Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 21% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.
- 56 High Court evidence led trials commenced which is 135% of the average pre-COVID level.
- 73 High Court cases were concluded, which is 109% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 53 weeks for High Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.
- 94 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 99% of the average pre-COVID level.
- 458 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 107% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 51 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-COVID level of 11 weeks.
- 589 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 102% of the average pre-COVID levels
- 5865 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 123% 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.
- 2356 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 92% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 57 weeks for Justice of the Peace, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.
David Fraser, SCTS Executive Director Court Operations said:
“The statistics demonstrate the courts recovery programme is having an impact in reducing the backlog created by the Covid-19 pandemic The trial backlog has reduced by nearly 1,500 trials since the end of April, with the percentage of trials concluded above pre-COVID levels in the High Court and Sheriff Courts.
“We continue to make progress due to the collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector. This is helping to effectively manage court business, including the ongoing delivery of the recovery programme. We will continue to publish these figures on a monthly basis to illustrate the progress we are making and the challenges still being faced.
The workbook is available at: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics