Coronavirus (COVID-19): Justice Analytical Services data report - May 2021

Summary

This pack provides information on the impact of COVID-19 on the Justice system during May 2021.

Data has been gathered from a number of different sources and may be subject to future revision.

Public compliance

This pack includes information on COVID-19 related interventions undertaken by Police Scotland. In addition to this, information on the public's compliance with measures to help restrict the spread of COVID-19 is collected from surveys of the population. Findings from these surveys can be found in the Public attitudes to Coronavirus: March Update.

Three quarters of respondents agreed that the best thing to do is to follow the government's advice. This has remained high and stable through January and February. However, those stating they had engaged in a non-compliant activity has risen from the start of January (23% to 33%).

Police activity

• The number of crimes recorded in May 2021 was lower than that in both May 2020 and May 2019.
• Weekly incident numbers have been similar in May 2021, compared to May 2020.
• The number of Domestic Abuse incidents recorded in May 2021 was lower than the level seen in May 2020, but higher than May 2019.
• The use of interventions decreased in May 2021. This was primarily due to the spike in the April figures, although the lifting of restrictions may also have contributed.

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Courts & Prisons

• May represents the first full month of business since Sheriff Summary courts eased partial restrictions on April 19th.
• JP courts resumed on 7th June, this will be reflected in next month's publication.
• Community disposals were returning to 19-20 levels but there remains a backlog of cases (and associated disposals) to conclude.
• Initiations and disposals in the civil court remain below 19-20 levels.
• Prison populations initially decreased as court business abated.
• The number of prisoners on remand subsequently rose to its current, historically high, level.