Publication - Statistics
Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2019-20
A total of 85,726 people were proceeded against in Scottish criminal courts in 2019-20, a fall of 4% from 89,725 proceedings in 2018-19 The number of convictions was 75,251 in 2019-20, which is also a fall of 4% from 78,488 in 2018-19. This continues the general downward trend of the last ten years,
Table 2(b) People proceeded against in court by main crime/offence and percentage outcome of court proceedings, 2019-20[1]
| Main crime or offence | PNGA[2,3] or deserted [4] | Acquitted not guilty | Acquitted not proven | Charge proved | Total | Not Proven as % of all acquitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All crimes and offences | 6 | 5 | 1 | 88 | 100 | 20 |
| All crimes | 8 | 5 | 2 | 85 | 100 | 25 |
| Non-sexual crimes of violence | 9 | 15 | 6 | 70 | 100 | 28 |
| homicide etc | 2 | 10 | 6 | 82 | 100 | 38 |
| Attempted murder and serious assault | 8 | 18 | 7 | 66 | 100 | 28 |
| Robbery | 14 | 8 | 4 | 75 | 100 | 34 |
| Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act | 2 | 13 | 1 | 84 | 100 | 9 |
| Other non-sexual crimes of violence | 11 | 13 | 4 | 72 | 100 | 23 |
| Sexual crimes | 4 | 16 | 9 | 71 | 100 | 37 |
| Rape and attempted rape | - | 32 | 25 | 43 | 100 | 44 |
| Sexual assault | 3 | 20 | 13 | 64 | 100 | 38 |
| Crimes associated with prostitution | 14 | 24 | 1 | 61 | 100 | 5 |
| Other sexual crimes | 6 | 7 | 3 | 85 | 100 | 28 |
| Crimes of dishonesty | 8 | 2 | - | 89 | 100 | 18 |
| Housebreaking | 8 | 2 | 2 | 88 | 100 | 47 |
| Theft by opening lockfast places | 9 | 1 | 1 | 90 | 100 | 50 |
| Theft from a motor vehicle | 7 | 5 | - | 88 | 100 | - |
| Theft of a motor vehicle | 22 | 7 | 1 | 71 | 100 | 9 |
| Shoplifting | 6 | - | - | 93 | 100 | 6 |
| Other theft | 11 | 5 | - | 83 | 100 | 9 |
| Fraud | 9 | 5 | 1 | 85 | 100 | 22 |
| Other dishonesty | 10 | 3 | 1 | 86 | 100 | 22 |
| Fire-raising, vandalism, etc. | 9 | 6 | 1 | 84 | 100 | 14 |
| Fire-raising | 9 | 4 | 4 | 83 | 100 | 50 |
| Vandalism etc. | 9 | 6 | 1 | 84 | 100 | 11 |
| Other crimes | 9 | 3 | 1 | 88 | 100 | 19 |
| Crimes against public justice | 8 | 3 | 1 | 89 | 100 | 16 |
| Handling offensive weapons | 7 | 7 | 2 | 84 | 100 | 11 |
| Drugs | 11 | 2 | - | 86 | 100 | 18 |
| Other crime | 3 | 1 | 2 | 94 | 100 | 67 |
| All offences | 5 | 5 | 1 | 89 | 100 | 22 |
| Miscellaneous offences | 6 | 8 | 2 | 84 | 100 | 19 |
| Common assault | 7 | 11 | 3 | 79 | 100 | 20 |
| Breach of the peace etc. | 5 | 5 | 1 | 88 | 100 | 18 |
| Drunkenness and other disorderly conduct | 9 | 3 | - | 89 | 100 | - |
| Urinating etc. | 71 | - | - | 29 | 100 | - |
| Other miscellaneous | 6 | 6 | 2 | 87 | 100 | 22 |
| Motor vehicle offences | 4 | 2 | - | 94 | 100 | 10 |
| Dangerous and careless driving | 3 | 5 | 1 | 91 | 100 | 12 |
| Driving under the influence | 1 | 2 | 1 | 96 | 100 | 19 |
| Speeding | 1 | - | - | 99 | 100 | 5 |
| Unlawful use of motor vehicle | 8 | 1 | - | 91 | 100 | 8 |
| Vehicle defect offences | 6 | 1 | - | 94 | 100 | - |
| Seat belt offences | 4 | 1 | - | 96 | 100 | - |
| Mobile phone offences | 5 | 12 | 1 | 82 | 100 | 4 |
| Other motor vehicle offences | 8 | 6 | - | 86 | 100 | 4 |
1. Excludes people against whom proceedings are started but which are dropped before they reach court.
2. Plea of not guilty accepted.
3. Includes cases where proceedings are dropped after a person has been called to court, e.g. if witnesses fail to attend.
4. Deserted simpliciter i.e. trial is permanently abandoned by the Procurator Fiscal.
Contact
Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot