Coronavirus (COVID-19): Justice Analytical Services data report - May 2021
This pack provides information on the impact of COVID-19 on the Justice system during May 2021.
Scottish Courts & Tribunal Service (SCTS)
SCTS Update
Data for 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.
Criminal Registered & Scheduled Trials
Since the initial lockdown in March 2020, there have been 91,074 criminal registrations in the courts. 479 of these registrations have been COVID-19 related (0.5%).
In May 2021, all types of court registration remained lower than 2019-20 averages, although sheriff court registrations appear to be returning to pre-pandemic levels:
- Indictments registered in the High Court were 35% lower than the 19-20 average.
- Indictments registered in the Sheriff court (solemn cases) were 3% lower than the 19-20 average.
- Complaints (summary cases) registered in the Sheriff Court were 8% lower than the 19-20 average.
- Complaints registered in the JP court were 29% lower than the 19-20 average.
| Cases Registered | 19-20 monthly average | May 2021 | Change from 19-20 monthly average | Outstanding trials March 2020 | Outstanding trials May 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indictments | |||||
| High Court | 85 | 43 | -42 (-49%) | 390 | 304 |
| Sheriff Court | 454 | 532 | +78 (+17%) | 497 | 1,479 |
| Complaints | |||||
| Sheriff Court | 5,478 | 4,603 | -875 (-16%) | 13,971 | 32,778 |
| JP Court | 2,799 | 1,731 | -1,068 (-38%) | 3,497 | 6,321 |
At the end of May 2021 there were 40,882 trials outstanding. This compares to 18,355 at the end of 2019-20. In addition, SCTS have forecast that there are another 7,736 cases in the system which are likely to come to trial but have not yet had a trial date set (see SCTS published monthly criminal statistics for a more detail - https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics).
Criminal Disposals
In May 2021 there were 4,525 disposals (excluding secondary disposals and the 'other' disposal category) from Scotland's courts. This is 62% of the 19-20 monthly average of 7,278 and 16% higher than April 2021.
Between April 2020 and May 2021 there were 44,916 (44%) fewer disposals than would have been expected based on 19-20 average figures. Over this time period, there have been 35% fewer custodial sentences and 47% fewer community disposals imposed by the courts than might have been expected.
| To: 31 May 2021 | Monthly average 2019-20 | May 2021 | Change % | Estimated* April 2020 – May 2021 | Actual April 2020 – May 2021 | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imprisonment | 1,011 | 785 | -22% | 14,153 | 9,142 | -35% |
| Community Disposal (CPO & DTTO) | 1,384 | 917 | -34% | 19,373 | 10,284 | -47% |
| Restriction of Liberty Order | 296 | 253 | -15% | 4,149 | 3,288 | -21% |
| Fine etc. | 3,106 | 1,549 | -50% | 43,479 | 20,805 | -52% |
| Admonished/ Discharged | 1,481 | 1,021 | -31% | 20,738 | 13,456 | -35% |
* based on 19-20 monthly average disposals
Disposals from court at any point in time are related both to the volume of business coming into courts and the length of time it takes that business to proceed through the court system. Therefore, changes in crime levels or the ability of courts to function in the usual way may have associated impacts on disposals.
Further Information: Latest SCTS published official statistics can be found here: https://scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics
Contact
Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot
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