Pilot which improved experiences for complainers to be rolled out across Scotland

The Summary Case Management (SCM) is a case management initiative which is aims to bring early resolution for complainers and witnesses.

The pilot at Dundee, Hamilton and Paisley Sheriff Courts was extended to Glasgow and Perth in 2024 where it focused on summary complaints involving charges of domestic abuse.

The initiative has now been expanded in Glasgow to cover all summary cases. This follows a substantial increase in the number of early guilty pleas, and a reduction in the number of trials called as well as witnesses cited during the pilot period.

As a result four trial courts per week originally required for domestic abuse trials have been freed up for other business in Glasgow.

The new figures (comparing performance in October 2023 with performance in October 2024) released today show that during the pilot period in Glasgow there has been: 

• A 46 per cent increase in guilty pleas tendered before trials were fixed and witnesses cited;
• a 31 per cent decrease in trials called but a 65 per cent increase in trials proceeding;
• a 22 per cent decrease in trials adjourned to a further trial diet resulting in a reduced need to re-cite witnesses;
• a 37 per cent reduction in outstanding trials.
• 34 per cent reduction in police citations and a 29 per cent reduction in civilian citations

Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar who has led the design, development and implementation of SCM, said: “The overall aim of SCM is to reduce the number of cases that are set down for trial unnecessarily and reduce the volume of late pleas of guilty on the day of the trial. The final evaluation report published last year identified the potential of the SCM approach to transform the summary justice system, bringing early case resolution, a reduction in witnesses attending court unnecessarily, and a substantial decrease in case backlogs. I am delighted that we are now commencing its extension across Scotland.

“As a result of the success of the pilot in Glasgow Sheriff Court, I have been able to reduce the domestic abuse trial programme by four courts per week and redirect these essential resources to other areas of business.  I am optimistic that the roll out of summary case management across all sheriff courts will result in similar efficiencies.

“These results could not have been achieved without strong collaboration with all justice partners; the judiciary, the police, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, defence agents, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and victim support services have all played a role in the success of this initiative.  The lessons learned from that collaborative approach places each justice partner on a strong footing as we expand the SCM model across Scotland.”

A practice note issued by the Lord Justice General, Lord Carloway, yesterday sets out the detail of the SCM approach and the timescales that will apply to its roll out.

Lord Carloway said: “The Summary Case Management pilot demonstrates how the number of trials can be radically reduced by encouraging early resolution of cases, through timeous disclosure of evidence by the Crown, early engagement between the Crown and the defence, and early judicial case management. Sheriff Principal Anwar and her project group are to be commended for the remarkable work which has been carried out.

“The success of this project is equally to the great credit of the procurators fiscal depute and the defence agents in working together to achieve fair and proportionate outcomes within a reasonable time. A roll out of this work to all sheriff courts is to be welcomed. The SCM pilot demonstrates how much can be achieved when all justice partners work together positively, to solve problems within or to improve the system.”

Extension of the SCM initiative across Scotland will be on the basis of a staged approach with a focus on domestic abuse cases in the first instance, followed by the extension to non-domestic abuse cases thereafter in each court.  This will commence from late February 2025 with the aim of completing the extension across Scotland by December 2025.

Jennifer Harrower, deputy crown agent, said: “We welcome the national rollout of the judicial led Summary Case Management initiative following its highly successfully pilot. This new approach has benefits for all criminal justice partners but, most importantly, it radically improves the service provided to the public, in particular victims and witnesses of crime.

“COPFS is committed to continuing to work collaboratively with our justice partners as SCM is expanded nationally.”