July criminal business figures show ups and downs

Levels of criminal business in the Scottish courts continued to fluctuate in July, according to the latest monthly figures from Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service.

The workbook reveals that during July:

• 48 High Court evidence led trials commenced, which is 14% higher than the average pre-COVID level (compared with 47 in June and 43 in May);
• 58 High Court cases were concluded, which is 86% of the average pre-COVID level (compared with 62 in June and 58 in May);
• 76 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 80% of the average pre-COVID level (compared with 88 in June and 82 in May);
• 453 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 105% of the average pre-COVID level (compared with 459 in June and 442 in May);
• 408 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 70% of the average pre-COVID levels (compared with 471 in June and 433 in May);
• 4,446 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 93% of the average pre-COVID level (compared with 4,547 in June and 4,181 in May);
• 3,032 justice of the peace cases were concluded which is 19% higher than the average pre-COVID level: the JP court only restarted on 7 June.

The overall level of new cases registered was 77% of the average monthly pre-COVID level (81% in June; 79% in May). Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 21% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level (17% in June and 16% in May). 

David Fraser, executive director, Court Operations at SCTS commented: "Jury trials in the High Court and sheriff courts are running at pre-COVID capacity following the successful introduction of remote jury centres. 

"Having restarted justice of the peace courts trials on 7 June, we have already reached 119% of pre-COVID levels, and summary throughput at the sheriff courts also shows a return to 93% of pre-COVID levels. 

"The excellent collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector has helped get court business back on track and this remains crucial in planning for the recovery programme commencing in September. We will continue to publish these figures on a monthly basis to illustrate the progress we are making and the challenges still being faced."

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