Coronavirus (COVID-19): Justice Analytical Services Data Report - July 2021
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, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, and Scottish Prison Service.
Sheriff Court Civil Case Volumes
Initiations and disposals
Initiations in the Sheriff Civil Courts remain lower than the 2019-20 typical levels, while disposals have almost returned to 2019-20 levels (see dotted lines). In July there were decreases in both initiations and disposals from the previous month.
Sheriff Court cases by procedure
Initiated case numbers for ordinary cause and simple procedure are returning to 2019-20 monthly average levels, with month to month variation, but both decreased from the previous month. Simple procedure initiations in July were less than half their 2019-20 monthly average levels. Summary cause is much lower than 2019-20 levels, but increased slightly from the previous month. Small claims have largely been replaced by simple procedure.
Likewise, disposed cases for ordinary cause and simple procedure are returning to 2019-20 levels. Both ordinary cause and simple procedure decreased in July in line with overall disposals. Summary cause disposals are returning to 2019-20 monthly average levels, but decreased in July. Summary cause disposals had steadily increased since March 2021.
Summary cause figures are heavily influenced by the emergency legislation which protected tenants during the pandemic, brought into force in April 2020 as part of Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020. The provisions of the Act expired on 30 March 2021.
| Procedures | Mar-21 | Apr-21 | May-21 | Jun-21 | Jul-21 | 2019/20 monthly average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiated | ||||||
| Ordinary cause | 2,161 | 1,676 | 1,838 | 1,796 | 1,753 | 1,928 |
| Summary cause | 228 | 181 | 274 | 266 | 303 | 1,132 |
| Small claim | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Simple procedure | 1,823 | 1,369 | 2,311 | 1,680 | 1,267 | 2,695 |
| Total initiated | 4,213 | 3,226 | 4,423 | 3,742 | 3,323 | 5,758 |
| Disposed | ||||||
| Ordinary cause | 1,428 | 1,254 | 1,374 | 1,638 | 1,400 | 1,445 |
| Summary cause | 644 | 724 | 794 | 848 | 556 | 1,096 |
| Small claim | 4 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 8 | 5 |
| Simple procedure | 2,148 | 2,000 | 2,079 | 1,928 | 1,772 | 2,306 |
| Total disposed | 4,224 | 3,978 | 4,247 | 4,440 | 3,736 | 4,852 |
1. Figures exclude summary applications.
2. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
3. Excludes Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
Focus on case types
- The case types presented below show gradual return to 2019-20 levels of initiation, with some month to month variation. Family cases in July were higher than the 2019-20 average levels, while the other case types shown are much lower.
- There was a decrease in disposals in July. All the case types presented below decreased from the previous month.
| Initiated Cases (July 21) | Disposed Cases (July 21) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2021 | Change from 19-20 | Case Type | July 2021 | Change from 19-20 |
| 1,095 | 104% of 19-20 average month (1,055 cases) | Family | 870 | 96% of 19-20 average month (910 cases) |
| 394 | 65% of 19-20 average month (602 cases) | Children's Referrals | 115 | 44% of 19-20 average month (260 cases) |
| 1,557 | 54% of 19-20 average month (2,883 cases) | Debt | 2,033 | 86% of 19-20 average month (2,368 cases) |
| 247 | 61% of 19-20 average month (402 cases) | Personal Injury | 209 | 68% of 19-20 average month (306 cases) |
Further Information:
Contact
Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot
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