SCTS June case figures reflect shift to solemn

An increased focus on solemn business is reflected in the number of criminal cases going through the courts during June, evidenced in the latest monthly workbook published today by the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service. 

During the month, the overall level of new cases registered was 87%, and of cases concluded 90%, of the average pre-Covid level, compared with May figures of 88% and 92%, and April figures of 82% and 81%, respectively. Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, were 27% higher (21% higher in May and 11% higher in April).

As respects particular courts, 

• 68 High Court evidence led trials commenced, 164% of the average pre-Covid level (79 in May, or 190%; 52 in April, or 125%);
• 110 High Court cases were concluded, 164% of the average pre-Covid level (May: 82, or 122%; April: 71, or 106%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 43 weeks for High Court, down from 45 weeks in May and 49 weeks in April, compared to the pre-Covid level of 22 weeks;
• 125 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced, 132% of the average pre-Covid level (May: 113, or 120%; April: 87, or 92%); 
• 633 sheriff solemn cases were concluded, 130% of the average pre-Covid level (May: 723, or 149%; April: 608, or 125%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 44 weeks for sheriff solemn, the same as in May and April, compared with the pre-Covid level of 11 weeks;
• 462 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, 80% of the average pre-Covid level (May: 437, or 75%; April: 396, or 68%);
• 5,274 sheriff summary cases were concluded, 102% of the average pre-Covid level (May: 5,286, or 102%; April: 4,624, or 89%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 34 weeks for sheriff summary, down from 42 weeks in May and 41 weeks in April, compared with the pre-Covid level of 23 weeks;
• 1,610 justice of the peace cases were concluded, 58% of the average pre-Covid level (May: 1,728, or 63%; April: 1,552, or 56%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 49 weeks for justice of the peace, up from 41 weeks in both May and April, compared with the pre-Covid level of 22 weeks.

David Fraser, SCTS executive director, Court Operations commented: “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 made on the summary backlog, we switched court recovery resources from summary to solemn, with the introduction of a further two additional High Court and six additional Sheriff solemn trial courts.

“Solemn cases, which involve the most serious crimes, are more challenging as the long term trend of increasing case levels continued throughout the pandemic. The switch shows that solemn throughput has increased significantly.”

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