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

Summary

This pack provides information on the impact of COVID-19 on the Justice system during September 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: October Update.

Claimed compliance in Phase 3 has been high.

Police activity

• Recorded crime was 7% lower over April to September compared to last year.
• The number of incidents remain below 2019 levels.
• Domestic abuse incidents were 8% higher in April to September 2020 compared to last year.
• Coronavirus interventions more than trebled (240%) between August and September, though remain much lower than in April.

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

• Subjects marked for Sheriff Summary court by COPFS have decreased.
• Subjects given Direct Measures by COPFS have increased.
• Registrations in the Sheriff court (solemn and summary) are above 19-20 levels.
• There were 25,000 fewer disposals from courts between April and September compared to last year.
• Initiations and disposals in the civil court remain below 19-20 levels.
• Prison populations decreased as court business abated.
• The number on remand continues to grow.