SCTS workbook shows post-COVID criminal case levels

Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service has today published the first of a new monthly workbook to show the throughput of solemn and summary criminal cases in Scotland's courts. 

The new publication 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 pre-COVID-19 averages for 2019-20.

It will run alongside the SCTS quarterly series of Official Statistics on criminal case activity in Scotland, which will continue to be published as normal.

The September figures show: 

• Following an initial reduction after lockdown, the overall level of new cases registered has risen to 83% of the average monthly pre-COVID level.
• Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 25% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.
• With the initial introduction of High Court remote jury centres now in place, evidence led trials are now 43% of the average monthly pre-COVID level. This will increase during November as the normal capacity for 16 trials per day is restored. Since July, increased preliminary and continued preliminary hearings have been scheduled to enable resolution or to allow trial diets to be assigned that were unable to progress during the peak of the pandemic. 
• Remote jury centres are being extended across Scotland to restart sheriff court jury trials, with Lothian & Borders and Glasgow & Strathkelvin commencing by December. The other sheriffdoms will follow in the early part of 2021. 
• Evidence led summary trials in the sheriff courts are now 76% of the average monthly pre-COVID levels. 
• The majority of criminal cases are resolved without the need for a trial, and the total volume of cases concluded in September was 89% of the average monthly pre-COVID level.   

Commenting on the new workbook, Eric McQueen, SCTS chief executive said: "Our courts are an essential public service and are open for business. Despite the COVID-19 restrictions we have put stringent measures in place to enable them to operate in a safe manner, protecting the health of our staff, judiciary and court users. 

"Since the first full month’s criminal programme in September, we can see considerable progress and a trajectory towards pre-COVID levels, both in trials and cases resolved without trial. This is the result of incredible collaboration across the courts, the judiciary, Scottish Government, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector. 

"While these are encouraging signs in getting back to normal operating levels, scheduled cases are twice the normal level and the average waiting period for trials has doubled to 12 months in the High Court, 15 months in sheriff solemn and six months in sheriff summary. We are working closely with all those involved in the justice system to find solutions to reduce delays."

He added: "I am delighted that we have been able to commence publication of these figures on a monthly basis which will show the progress we are making and challenges we still face against the backdrop of a global pandemic."