Criminal cases down 4% in 2019-20: official figures

Criminal proceedings, and convictions, in the Scottish courts fell by 4% in the year to 2019-20, the year which ended as the first COVID-19 lockdown began, according to official figures published today.

The number of cases brought was 85,726, resulting in 75,251 convictions. Both figures were down by 4% on the previous year, continuing the general downward trend of the last 10 years: the number of convictions was down 35% in 2019-20 compared to 2010-11.

The most notable falls year on year in the number of convictions were for unlawful use of a motor vehicle (down 18%, or 1,358 fewer convictions), shoplifting (down 9%, or 533 convictions), and drug crimes (down 11%, or 575 convictions).

Although convictions for most types of crimes and offences decreased, there was a notable rise of 21% for convictions for non-sexual crimes of violence between, from 1,772 in 2018-19 to 2,142 in 2019-20. Attempted murder and serious assault convictions were up by 11% from 1,166 in 2018-19 to 1,298 in 2019-20; and robbery convictions rose by 14% from 361 to 410. However, the number of convictions for homicide remained unchanged.

Some of the overall rise in this category has been attributed to the new crime of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, which came into effect at the start of the reporting year. There were 206 convictions in 2019-20 out of 246 people proceeded against, or an 84% rate. Further data will be needed to provide a clearer picture.

Convictions for sexual crimes showed a slight decrease of 2%, from 1,224 in 2018-19 to 1,204 in 2019-20, but total convictions for rape and attempted rape were down by 8% from 142 to 130.

The total number of convictions resulting in a custodial sentence decreased by 9% (from 12,221 in 2018-19 to 11,101 in 2019-20), with custodial sentences representing 15% of sentences imposed for all convictions in 2019-20. Over the past decade this proportion has ranged between 13% and 16%.

The average length of sentence for all crimes, excluding life sentences, was almost a year (356 days), compared with 326 days in 2018-19. This was due to fewer shorter sentences being given out, rather than more longer sentences.

At the same time the proportion of those convicted who were given a community sentence rose by 7% to 22%, the highest proportion of the past 10 years. This was driven by a 6% increase in community payback orders and a 15% increase in restriction of liberty orders.

Recorded police warnings, at 22,353, were up by 1% compared to 2018-19, two thirds (65%) of these being for drugs offences, breach of the peace or shoplifting; while the number of COPFS disposals increased by 2%, driven by a 14% increase in the number of fiscal fixed penalties and a 21% increase in fiscal combined fines and compensation, partly offset by a 9% decrease in the number of fiscal warnings.

The figures released today were produced in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

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