SCTS publishes latest criminal case figures

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) today published the latest monthly workbook to show the throughput of criminal cases in our courts.

This shows the volumes of cases being progressed each month in the High Court, Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Courts from April 2020, compared against the monthly averages for 2019/20 (pre-COVID).

The figures show that during July 2023:

The overall level of new cases registered is 81% of the average pre-COVID level.

The overall level of cases concluded is 83% of the average pre-COVID level.

Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 30%
higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.

49 High Court evidence led trials commenced which is 118% of the average pre-
COVID level.

75 High Court cases were concluded, which is 112% of the average pre-COVID level.

The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 43 weeks for High
Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.

100 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 106% of the average pre-COVID level.

681 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 140% of the average pre-COVID level.

The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 41 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-COVID level of 11 weeks.

433 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 75% of the average pre-COVID levels

4,962 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 96% of the average pre-COVID level.

The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 38 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to the pre-COVID level of 23 weeks.

1,363 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 49% of the average pre-COVID level.

The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 44 weeks for Justice of the Peace, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.

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