Holidays slow criminal case throughput in April

Public holidays affected the number of criminal cases going through the courts during April, the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service said as it published the latest monthly workbook on throughput of criminal cases. 

During April 2023, the overall level of new cases registered was 82%, and of cases concluded 81%, of the average pre-Covid level, compared with March figures of 93% and 106% respectively. Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, were 11% higher (37% higher in March).

As respects particular courts, 

• 52 High Court evidence led trials commenced, 125% of the average pre-Covid level (March saw 64 new trials, or 154%);
• 71 High Court cases were concluded, 106% of the average pre-Covid level (March: 87, or 130%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 49 weeks for High Court, down from 50 weeks in March, compared to the pre-Covid level of 22 weeks;
• 87 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced, 92% of the average pre-Covid level (March: 117, or 124%); 
• 608 sheriff solemn cases were concluded, 125% of the average pre-Covid level;
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 44 weeks for sheriff solemn, down from 45 weeks in March, compared to the pre-Covid level of 11 weeks;
• 396 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, 68% of the average pre-Covid level (March: 605, or 105%);
• 4,624 sheriff summary cases were concluded, 89% of the average pre-Covid level (March: 6,137, or 119%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 41 weeks for sheriff summary, down from 45 weeks in March, compared to the pre-Covid level of 23 weeks;
• 1,552 justice of the peace cases were concluded, 56% of the average pre-Covid level (March: 2,117, or 77%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 41 weeks for justice of the peace, down from 45 weeks in March, compared to the pre-Covid level of 22 weeks.

David Fraser, executive director, Court Operations at SCTS, commented: "With fewer court days due to Easter holidays the number of scheduled trials increased by 1% during April. We will likely see similar variations in the May data due to the number of public holidays.  

"However, through the court recovery programme we are aiming to return to a point where the number of scheduled cases being prepared for trial is around 20,000. Given the progress on summary trials we remain confident that summary backlog will be cleared by March 2024."

He added: "Our modelling projects that with the new resources in place High Court cases will return to the revised baseline by March 2025 and sheriff solemn cases by March 2026."

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