Statistical Bulletin Crime and Justice Series: Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2006/07

9 Commentary: Bail Orders and Offences ( Tables 15 to 19)

9.1 The total number of bail orders made in 2006/07 was 63,400, an increase of 11 per cent from 2005/06. Increases between these two years have been greatest for the main charge categories of 'other' crimes (which includes crimes against public justice) (up 20 per cent), handling an offensive weapon (up 20 per cent), and common assault (up by 16 per cent). There has been a decrease for the category of crimes of indecency (down by 2 per cent).

9.2 In terms of longer-term trends, the 63,400 bail orders made in 2006/07 represented an increase of 34 per cent since 2002/03. Increases over this period have been greatest for the main charge categories of miscellaneous offences (up 80 per cent to 3,400), breach of the peace (up 71 per cent to 7,300), handling an offensive weapon (up 71 per cent to 3,400) and common assault (up 67 per cent to 12,700). The category of crimes of dishonesty showed a decrease over this time period (down by 4 per cent to 12,500), while the category of motor vehicle offences has remained at a similar level (4,300 bail orders).

9.3 The number of bail orders granted expressed as a percentage of the numbers of crimes cleared up by the police has shown an overall increase from 7 per cent in 2002/03 to 8 per cent in 2006/07. The percentage use of bail orders varies by each type of offence category, for instance the number of bail orders made in 2006/07 for non-sexual crimes of violence represented 50 per cent of all crimes cleared up for this type of offence over that period, while the number of bail orders made for motor vehicle offences represented only 1 per cent of all crimes cleared up for that type of offence.

9.4 Over half (51 per cent) of the total number of bail orders made in 2006/07 were accounted for by those where the main charge was a crime of dishonesty (20 per cent of all orders), common assault (20 per cent of all orders), and breach of the peace (12 per cent of all orders). Males received 84 per cent of all orders made. Those aged 21-30 and over 30 received 36 per cent and 39 per cent respectively of all orders made. Most (89 per cent) bail orders made in 2006/07 were issued at Sheriff Courts, with District (including Stipendiary) Courts making up most of the remainder.

9.5 Of the total of 187,300 offences with a charge proved in 2006/07, 29,000 (15 per cent) had a bail aggravator recorded against them, indicating that these offences were committed while the offender was on bail, an increase of 1 percentage point from 2005/06. Crimes and offence categories with a relatively high percentage of bail aggravator recording include robbery (34 per cent), 'other' crimes of indecency (33 per cent), crimes against public justice (32 per cent) and crimes of dishonesty (28 per cent). Crimes and offences with a relatively low percentage of bail aggravator recording include lewd and indecent behaviour (5 per cent) and motor vehicle offences (7 per cent).

9.6 Bail-related offences other than committing an offence on bail covers the offences of breach of bail conditions and failure to appear in court after being granted bail. A total of 7,400 of these offences had a charge proved in 2006/07, an increase of 24 per cent compared with 2005/06. However when looked at as a percentage of bail orders granted, the value for 2006/07 (12 per cent) was a 1 percentage point increase from 2005/06 (11 per cent), and was at a similar level to 2002/03 (12 per cent). For the number of bail-related offences, the main increases from 2005/06 to 2006/07 were seen in Sheriff Summary Court offences (up 26 per cent to 6,800), offences relating to those aged under 21 (up 44 per cent to 2,500), and offences where the offender was male (up 26 per cent to 6,600).