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

Criminal Disposals

In September 2020 there were 6,760 disposals (excluding secondary disposals and the ‘other’ disposal category) from Scotland’s courts. This is 75% of the 19-20 monthly average of 8,956, reflecting the fact that regular court activity (particularly in the Sheriff summary court where the majority of cases are heard) is returning to pre-lockdown levels.

However, as a result of lockdown, between April and September 2020 there were 25,128 (58%) fewer disposals compared to the same time the previous year.

If courts had not been subject to lockdown and crime levels had remained the same we could have expected the number of April to September 2020 court disposals to be similar to April to September 2019 levels.

From April to September of 2020, there have been 52% fewer custodial sentences and 71% fewer community disposals imposed by the courts than might have been expected under normal circumstances.

Overall, the number of crimes recorded by the police between April and September 2020 was 7% lower than the same period in 2019. It will take time for these cases to move through the courts system and it is unlikely that many of these cases are included in the disposal figures above. Any changes in crime levels may have associated impacts on volumes of court business and disposals.

Further Information:

Latest SCTS published official statistics can be found here: https://scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics