Criminal court business pulls ahead during March

Criminal business throughput in most Scottish courts pulled ahead of pre-COVID levels during March, according to the latest monthly workbook from Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service.

The overall level of cases concluded reached 111% of the average pre-COVID level, compared with 92% in February and 77% in January, while new cases registered were at 91% of the average pre-COVID level. However, petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, were 31% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level, up from 16% in February and 26% in January.

As regards particular categories of business:

• 55 High Court evidence led trials commenced, 133% of the average pre-COVID level (February's figure was 54; January's 47);
• 77 High Court cases were concluded, 115% of the average pre-COVID level (February: 57; January: 45);
• 95 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced, the same as the average pre-COVID level (February: 78; January: 56);
• 461 sheriff solemn cases were concluded, 107% of the average pre-COVID level (February: 427; January: 357);
• 604 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, 104% of the average pre-COVID level (February: 552; January: 427);
• 5,929 sheriff summary cases were concluded, 124% of the average pre-COVID level (February: 4,995; January: 4,126);
• 2,215 justice of the peace cases were concluded, 87% of the average pre-COVID level (February: 1,741; January: 1,513).

The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial remained at 48 weeks for the High Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks; increased by a week to 45 weeks for sheriff solemn cases (pre-COVID: 11 weeks); reduced by two weeks to 50 weeks for sheriff summary cases (pre-COVID: 23 weeks); and also reduced by two weeks to 54 weeks for the JP court (pre-COVID: 22 weeks).

The workbook is available at www.scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics