The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service’s figures on the throughput of criminal cases in September also show:

• The overall level of new cases registered is 81 per cent of the average monthly pre-Covid level.
• The overall level of cases concluded is 105 per cent of the average monthly pre-Covid level.
• Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 16 per cent higher than the average monthly pre-Covid level.
• 47 High Court evidence led trials commenced, which is 12 per cent higher than the average pre-Covid level.
• 62 High Court cases were concluded, which is 92 per cent of the average pre-Covid level.
• 95 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is the same as the average pre-Covid level.
• 439 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 102 per cent of the average pre-Covid level.
• 551 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 95 per cent of the average pre-Covid levels
• 5,186 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 9 per cent higher than the average pre-Covid level.
• 2,498 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 98 per cent of the average pre-Covid level.

David Fraser, SCTS executive director court operations said: “Our court buildings continue to operate in accordance with guidance from Public Health Scotland to safeguard our staff, judiciary and court users.

“The introduction of additional trial courts in the High and Sheriff Courts from 6 September is a key element of our recovery programme and the impact is already being felt with criminal trials and throughput operating at, or beyond, pre-Covid levels even though these figures do not yet record a full month of operation of the additional courts. Of particular note is summary throughput at the Sheriff Court which rose significantly to 9 per cent higher than the pre-Covid monthly average.

“The excellent collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector is helping to get court business back on track and this remains crucial in delivering the recovery programme. We will continue to publish these figures on a monthly basis to illustrate the progress we are making and the challenges still being faced.”