Coronavirus (COVID-19): Justice Analytical Services Data Report - December 2020

Seventh release of a monthly data report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the justice system in Scotland, including information from Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, and Scottish Prison Service.

This document is part of a collection


Summary

This pack provides information on the impact of COVID-19 on the Justice system during December 2020.

Data has been gathered from a number of different sources and may be subject to future revision.

Public compliance

This pack includes information on COVID-19 related interventions undertaken by Police Scotland. In addition to this, information on the public's compliance with measures to help restrict the spread of COVID-19 is collected from surveys of the population. Findings from these surveys can be found in the Public attitudes to Coronavirus: November Update.

Claimed compliance was high in September and October.

Police activity

  • Recorded crime was 6% lower over April to December compared to last year.
  • The number of incidents remain below 2019 levels.
  • Domestic abuse incidents were 4% higher in April to December 2020 compared to last year.
  • Coronavirus interventions decreased by 10% between November and December.

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Courts & Prisons

  • COPFS reports awaiting marking continue to increase beyond 19-20 levels.
  • To reduce footfall in lockdown, the majority of summary business will be adjourned.
  • Community disposals are returning to 19-20 levels but there remains a backlog of cases (and associated disposals) to conclude.
  • Initiations and disposals in the civil court remain below 19-20 levels.
  • Prison populations decreased as court business abated.
  • Prisoners on remand remain at historically high levels.

Contact

Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot

Back to top