Criminal Proceedings in Scotland: 2023-2024

Key points

Court proceedings and convictions

(Tables 1, 2, 4a, 4b and 4c)

Between 2022-23 and 2023-24:

• the number of people proceeded against in court decreased 7%, from 79,104 to 73,224, which was 41% lower than in 2014-15 (123,307 people)
• the number of prosecuted people who were convicted decreased 7%, from 67,966 to 63,486, which was 40% lower than in 2014-15 (106,572 people)
• the conviction rate rose one percentage point, from 86% to 87%, which was also one percentage point higher than it was in 2014-15 (86%)
• the number of people convicted of a main charge of a Non-sexual crime of violence rose 4%, from 11,108 to 11,553, which was 17% lower than in 2014-15 (13,908 people)
• the number of people convicted of a main charge under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 increased 19%, from 756 to 897, which was a new highest total following its introduction
• the number of people convicted of a main charge of a Sexual crime rose 12%, from 1,413 to 1,583, which was 31% higher than in 2014-15 (1,212 people)
• the number of people convicted of a main charge of Rape and attempted rape increased 19%, from 186 to 221, which was 78% higher than in 2014-15 (124 people) and a new highest total amongst comparable records (since 1989-90)
• the conviction rate for a main charge of Rape and attempted rape rose seven percentage points, from 54% to 61%, the highest rate in the 10-year span
• the number of people convicted of a main charge of a Crime of dishonesty fell 2%, from 5,925 to 5,833, which was 53% lower than in 2014-15 (12,526 people)

Court sentences

(Tables 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 8c, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d)

In 2023-24:

• 16% of convicted people were given a custodial sentence, up from 13% in 2022-23
• 25% of convicted people were given a community sentence, up from 24% in 2022-23 and the highest seen in the 10-year span
• 40% of convicted people were given a financial penalty, down from 45% in 2022-23
• 20% of convicted people were given an “other” sentence, which were mostly admonishments, up from 18% in 2022-23

Between 2022-23 and 2023-24:

• the number of people given a custodial sentence increased by 13%
• the number of people given a community sentence decreased by 2%
• the number of people given a financial penalty decreased by 17%
• the number of people given an “other” sentence, which were mostly admonishments, decreased by 1%

Average custodial sentence length[1]:

• was 393 days in 2023-24, up 2% from 386 days in 2022-23
• has increased 37% over the 10-year span, from 286 days to 393 days, a rise driven in part by an increase in the proportion of more serious crimes prosecuted in court
• was highest for the crimes of Murder and culpable homicide (3,488 days), Rape and attempted rape (2,564 days) and Other crimes against society (1,214 days) in 2023-24

Custodial sentence lengths of 3 to 6 months were the most common across the 10-year span and accounted for 30% of all custodial sentences in 2023-24.

Characteristics of offenders

(Tables 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c, 8c, 10b and 11)

Between 2014-15 and 2023-24, the number of convicted people per 1,000 population:

• decreased by 43%, from 22 to 13
• who were male decreased by 43%, from 38 to 21
• who were female decreased by 41%, from 7 to 4
• who were aged under 21 decreased by 57%, from 57 to 25
• who were aged 21-30 decreased by 51%, from 51 to 25
• who were aged 31-40 decreased by 36%, from 44 to 28
• who were aged over 40 decreased by 28%, from 40 to 28

Aggravations

(Tables 12 and 13)

Between 2022-23 and 2023-24 convictions with a:

• statutory domestic abuse aggravation decreased by 4%, from 7,936 to 7,640
• statutory domestic abuse aggravation in relation to a child decreased by 10%, from 196 to 177
• disability aggravation increased by 19%, from 215 to 256
• racial aggravation increased by 6%, from 710 to 750
• religious aggravation decreased by 1%, from 209 to 206
• sexual orientation aggravation decreased by 3%, from 589 to 574
• transgender aggravation decreased by 50%, from 24 to 12

Bail and undertakings

(Tables 14, 15 and 16)

Between 2022-23 and 2023-24:

• the number of bail orders made increased 2%, from 26,552 to 27,067
• the number of bail-related offences (i.e. breach of bail conditions, such as failure to appear in court after being granted bail) increased 5%, from 7,980 to 8,355
• the proportion of bail-related offences as a percentage of bail orders granted increased one percentage point, from 30% to 31%, the highest proportion in the 10-year span
• undertakings to appear in court increased <1%, from 23,747 to 23,785

Police disposals

(Tables 17, 18a, 18b, 18c and 19)

Between 2022-23 and 2023-24:

• police disposals decreased by 3%, from 31,324 to 30,490
• Recorded Police Warnings (RPWs) increased by 11%, from 21,159 to 23,583
• Anti-Social Behaviour Fixed Penalty Notices decreased by 13%, from 4,721 to 4,123

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service disposals

(Tables 20, 21a, 21b, 21c and 22)

In 2023-24 the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service issued:

• 12,705 people a Fiscal Fixed Penalty, which relate only to certain road traffic offences, 12% more than the 11,370 issued in 2022-23

9,793 people with a Fiscal Fine, which are available for any offence which may be tried summarily, 11% fewer than the 11,005 issued in 2022-23