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,

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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

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