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 January 2024:
- The overall level of new cases registered is 102% 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 6% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.
- 59 High Court evidence led trials commenced which is 142% of the average pre-COVID level.
- 68 High Court cases were concluded, which is 101% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 49 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.
- 608 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 125% 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.
- 526 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 91% of the average pre-COVID levels
- 5,906 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 114% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 37 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to the pre-COVID level of 23 weeks.
- 1,680 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 61% of the average pre-COVID level.
- The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 39 weeks for Justice of the Peace, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.
The workbook is available at: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics