The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service statistical bulletin is published today providing quarterly Official Statistics on criminal case activity in Scotland. This bulletin covers the period Quarter 3 2023/24 (October – December). The 23 rd QCC bulletin shows the continued impact of the recovery resources switch from summary to solemn that occurred on 1 st April 2023 to provide 2 additional HighCourt and 6 additional Sheriff Solemn trial courts.
The number of Sheriff Solemn trials scheduled fell by 5% to 1,945 as at the end of December 2023 when compared to the previous quarter end.
Other highlights include:
-There were 23,040 first instance criminal cases registered in Scottish courts in Q3 2023/24, which is 1% lower than in Q2 2023/24.
– The overall number of scheduled trials has fallen by 1% to 27,565 as at the end of December 2023 when compared to the previous quarter end (27,911).
– The number of Evidence led trials that called in Q3 2023/24 fell by 1% to 2,089 when compared to Q2 2023/24.
– The total number of cases concluded is 1% higher than in Q2 2023/24, with 22,812 cases concluded in Q3 2023/24.
– In Q3 2023/24 domestic abuse cases accounted for 29% of Sheriff Summary trials called and 32% of Sheriff Summary trials in which evidence was led.