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SCTS News

Monthly information on Criminal Case Throughput for April 2024

May 21, 2024

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 April 2024:

  • The overall level of new cases registered is 95% of the average pre-COVID level.
  • The overall level of cases concluded is 103% of the average pre-COVID level.
  • Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 28% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.

High Court

  • 64 High Court evidence led trials commenced which is 154% of the average pre-COVID level.
  • 72 High Court cases were concluded, which is 107% of the average pre-COVID level.
  • The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 43 weeks for High Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.

Sheriff Solemn

  • 114 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 121% of the average pre-COVID level.
  • 690 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 142% of the average pre-COVID level.
  • The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 45 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-COVID level of 11 weeks.

Sheriff Summary

  • 565 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 98% of the average pre-COVID levels
  • 5780 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 112% 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.

Justice of the Peace

  • 2203 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 80% of the average pre-COVID level.
  • The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 35 weeks for Justice of the Peace, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.

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