Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2019-20

A total of 85,726 people were proceeded against in Scottish criminal courts in 2019-20, a fall of 4% from 89,725 proceedings in 2018-19 The number of convictions was 75,251 in 2019-20, which is also a fall of 4% from 78,488 in 2018-19. This continues the general downward trend of the last ten years,


Table 14 Bail orders made by main charge, 2010-11 to 2019-20[1]

Year Non-sexual crimes of violence Sexual crimes Crimes of dishonesty Fire-raising vandalism etc. Handling an offensive weapon Drug offences Other crimes Common assault Breach of the peace Miscellaneous offences Motor vehicle offences Unknown Total[2]
  Number                        
2010-11 3,420    825    8,477    2,696    2,070    2,879    7,695    8,413    5,739    2,298    1,672    19    46,221   
2011-12 3,240    960    8,378    2,732    2,001    2,769    8,157    8,740    6,404    2,590    1,596    28    47,606   
2012-13 2,530    1,046    7,583    2,492    1,542    2,645    7,548    7,913    6,077    2,937    1,681    35    44,039   
2013-14 2,510    1,414    7,651    2,487    1,584    2,321    8,148    8,976    7,429    2,936    1,715    14    47,196   
2014-15 2,426    1,574    6,707    2,406    1,471    2,571    8,034    8,967    7,723    2,927    1,730    12    46,560   
2015-16 2,601    1,434    6,400    2,456    1,243    2,646    7,960    8,668    7,215    2,925    1,768    20    45,346   
2016-17 2,454    1,370    6,163    2,510    1,265    2,346    7,138    7,652    6,764    2,663    1,924    18    42,277   
2017-18 2,287    1,589    5,570    2,231    1,422    1,907    6,765    6,086    4,934    2,285    1,759    13    36,853   
2018-19 2,213    1,455    5,398    2,274    1,510    1,809    6,494    5,391    4,379    2,206    1,583    15    34,735   
2019-20 2,246    1,160    4,320    1,886    1,336    1,484    5,732    4,236    3,592    1,776    1,356    20    29,150   
  Percentage of total[3]                      
2010-11 7   2   18   6   4   6   17   18   12   5   4   *   100  
2011-12 7   2   18   6   4   6   17   18   13   5   3   *   100  
2012-13 6   2   17   6   4   6   17   18   14   7   4   *   100  
2013-14 5   3   16   5   3   5   17   19   16   6   4   *   100  
2014-15 5   3   14   5   3   6   17   19   17   6   4   *   100  
2015-16 6   3   14   5   3   6   18   19   16   6   4   *   100  
2016-17 6   3   15   6   3   6   17   18   16   6   5   *   100  
2017-18 6   4   15   6   4   5   18   17   13   6   5   *   100  
2018-19 6   4   16   7   4   5   19   16   13   6   5   *   100  
2019-20 8   4   15   6   5   5   20   15   12   6   5   *   100  

1. Excludes modifications to existing bail orders, persons counted once only where more than one bail order on same day.
2. A breakdown of bail orders by the main charge is not available for the period from 20 October 2007 to 31 March 2009.
3. Row totals do not equal the sum of the main charges for some years as bail can be granted following the lodging of an appeal.
4. Percentage of bail orders made where crime/offence type is known.

Contact

Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot

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