The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service statistical bulletin is published today providing quarterly Official Statistics on criminal case activity in Scotland. This bulletin covers the period Quarter 3 2023/24 (October - December).

The 23^rd QCC bulletin shows the continued impact of the recovery resources switch from summary to solemn that occurred on 1^st April 2023 to provide 2 additional High Court and 6 additional Sheriff Solemn trial courts. The number of Sheriff Solemn trials scheduled fell by 5% to 1,945 as at the end of December 2023 when compared to the previous quarter end.

Other highlights include:

• There were 23,040 first instance criminal cases registered in Scottish courts in Q3 2023/24, which is 1% lower than in Q2 2023/24. 
• The overall number of scheduled trials has fallen by 1% to 27,565 as at the end of December 2023 when compared to the previous quarter end (27,911).
• The number of Evidence led trials that called in Q3 2023/24 fell by 1% to 2,089 when compared to Q2 2023/24.
• The total number of cases concluded is 1% higher than in Q2 2023/24, with 22,812 cases concluded in Q3 2023/24.
• In Q3 2023/24 domestic abuse cases accounted for 29% of Sheriff Summary trials called and 32% of Sheriff Summary trials in which evidence was led.

Notes:

• The Quarterly Criminal Court Statistics report is available at: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics
• 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.
• See the Scottish Government’s website for criminal statistics relating to people, offence types and sentencing as well as civil justice: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice