Coronavirus (COVID-19): Justice Analytical Services data report - August 2020

Third release of a monthly data report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the justice system in Scotland, including information from Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, courts and prisons.


Summary

This pack provides information on the impact of COVID-19 on the Justice system during August 2020.

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: June and early July report.

Overall, self-reported compliance was high and had remained stable through July.

Police activity

  • Recorded crime was 7% lower over April to August compared to last year.
  • The number of incidents remain below 2019 levels.
  • Domestic abuse incidents were 8% higher in April to August 2020 compared to last year.
  • Coronavirus interventions were up by almost seven tenths (69%) between July and August. Though remain much lower than in April.

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

  • Subjects given a First Substantive Marking by COPFS are returning to 19-20 levels.
  • Registrations in the Sheriff court (solemn and summary) are returning to 19-20 levels.
  • There were 25,000 fewer disposals from courts between April and August compared to last year.
  • Initiations and disposals in the civil court remain below 19-20 levels.
  • Prison populations have decreased as court business has abated.
  • The number on remand continues to grow.

Contact

Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot

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