Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2022-23

2. Trends in conviction rates

(Tables 4a-c)

Conviction rates are calculated by dividing the number of people convicted by the number of people proceeded against. Care should be taken when interpreting data on conviction rates. Conviction rates include guilty pleas and those who have been found guilty after evidence has been heard in court. Conviction rates are dependent on a number of factors, including the strength of evidence available; and the complexity of the case and the number of guilty pleas. However, all convictions are wholly dependent upon the decision of the court. A high conviction rate could indicate that cases brought to court are evidentially strong or straightforward (for example road traffic offences), but it could also indicate that cases which are evidentially weak, for instance, lacking sufficient admissible evidence are not reaching court. Conversely, a low conviction rate could indicate that the highly complex or evidentially difficult cases are brought to Court, but, the judge or jury is unwilling to accept the evidence provided by the prosecutor and thereafter unable to convict the accused. Further detail of acquittals with respect to rape and attempted rape can be seen in Section 3.

High-level summary

Trends in conviction rates, 2013-14 to 2022-23

(Tables 4a-4c)

Year on year change (2021-22 to 2022-23)

The rise in the number of convictions between 2021-22 and 2022-23 has been led by an increase in absolute numbers for:

• Common assault (up 23% to 10,276)
• Threatening and abusive behaviour (up 18% to 12,090)
• Crimes against public justice (up 16% to 10,161)
• Driving under the influence (up 32% to 4,846)

Change over the latest 10 years (2013-14 to 2022-23)

Over the last ten years, the number of convictions fell for most crimes and offences with the largest falls in:

• Speeding (down 69%)
• Shoplifting (down 54%)
• Common assault (down 28%)

There were however increases in convictions for most sexual crimes, (up by 25% since 2013-14.

Key points to note

• The overall conviction rate decreased to 86% in 2022-23, down from 88% in 2021-22. This marks a return to the levels seen pre-pandemic where, between 2013-14 and 2019-20, conviction rates ranged from 86% to 88%.