Trials backlog down 7,500 since January, SCTS claims

Further progress in reducing the backlog of trials has been claimed by Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service, as it released its latest monthly workbook on cases dealt with by the criminal courts.

Since the start of the year the trial backlog has reduced by 7,500 cases, SCTS said. Last month it reported a fall of 3,000 cases between end April and end June.

Its figures for July show that the overall level of cases concluded during the month was 97% of the average pre-COVID level, compared with 104% in June and 112% in May. New cases registered were at 78% of the pre-COVID average (June 91%; May 87%), but petitions were 11% higher than average (June 22% higher; May 21%).

As regards particular courts:

• 42 High Court evidence led trials commenced, 101% of the average pre-COVID level (June 53 trials or 128%; May 56 trials or 135%);
• 66 High Court cases were concluded, 98% of the pre-COVID average (June 74 cases or 110%; May 73 cases or 109%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 46 weeks in the High Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks (June 46 weeks; May 53 weeks);
• 70 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced, 74% of the pre-COVID average (June 73 trials or 77%; May 94 trials or 99%);
• 418 sheriff solemn cases were concluded, 97% of the pre-COVID average (June 488 cases or 114%; May 458 cases or 107%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 44 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-COVID average of 11 weeks (June 52 weeks; May 51 weeks);
• 431 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, 74% of the pre-COVID average (June 495 trials or 86%; May 589 trials or 102%);
• 4,989 sheriff summary cases were concluded, 105% of the pre-COVID average (June 5,272 cases or 110%; May 5,865 cases or 123%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 44 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to the pre-COVID average of 23 weeks (June 50 weeks; May 50 weeks);
• 2,143 justice of the peace cases were concluded, 84% of the pre-COVID average (June 2,304 cases or 90%; May 2,356 cases or 92%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 52 weeks for justice of the peace, compared to the pre-COVID average of 22 weeks (June 55 weeks; May 57 weeks).

David Fraser, SCTS executive director, court operations commented: "The statistics demonstrate the courts recovery programme is having an impact in reducing the backlog created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The trial backlog has reduced by 7,500 trials since the start of the year, with the percentage of trials concluded above pre-COVID levels in the High Court and sheriff courts.

"The 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."

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