November court data show COP26 effect

Suspension of trials due to the COP26 conference in Glasgow had the expected impact on sheriff court cases progressed during November, but High Court business continued above pre-COVID-19 levels, according to the latest monthly workbook from Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service. 

No trials ran during the first two weeks of November for summary and sheriff solemn business, though High Court trials were unaffected.

The figures show that during November 2021 the overall level of new cases registered was 84% of the average monthly pre-COVID level, as was the overall level of cases concluded. However petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, were 34% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level, compared with 10% in October and 16% in September.

More specifically: 

• 63 High Court evidence led trials commenced, 50% higher than the average pre-COVID level (October saw 54, and September 47); 
• 82 High Court cases were concluded, 22% higher than the average pre-COVID level (October saw 70; September 62). 
• 48 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced, 51% of the average pre-COVID level, compared with 70 in October and 95 in September; 
• 414 sheriff solemn cases were concluded, 96% of the average pre-COVID level (October saw 403; September 439);
• 385 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, 67% of the average pre-COVID levels (October saw 439; September 551);
• 4,162 sheriff summary cases were concluded, 87% of the average pre-COVID level (October saw 4,099; September 5,186); 
• 1,921 justice of the peace cases were concluded, 75% of the average pre-COVID level (October saw 2,022; September 2,498). 

David Fraser, SCTS executive director, Court Operations, commented: "Sheriff summary trials and justice of the peace trials across Scotland were suspended from 25 October to 12 November, and sheriff solemn trials were suspended from 1 to 12 November. Additional weekend sheriff custody courts were made available at several locations across Scotland for the duration of the conference. 

"The excellent collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector is helping to effectively manage court business, including the ongoing delivery of the recovery programme. 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