This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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No Proceedings statistics 2005-06
31/08/2006
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has today published its No Proceedings marking figures for 2005-06.
Relevant Statistics:
- 14.4 per cent of cases reported in 2005-06 were marked 'No Proceedings' (48,929 out of 339,415)
- The proportion of cases marked 'No Proceedings' in 2005-06 was 22 per cent down on the level in 2004-05 (ie 18.5 per cent)
- With the exception of 2003-04 (when the proportion of cases marked 'No Proceedings' was 13.4 per cent), the proportion of cases marked 'No Proceedings' in 2005-06 was at its lowest level since at least 2000-01
- The proportion of all cases marked for no proceedings because of delay account for just 1.9% of the total figure
The figures record the number of reports from police or other reporting agencies where the Procurator Fiscal decides not to take action by way of prosecution or an alternative to prosecution (such as a fiscal fine or warning). The process of decision making is known as 'marking'.
Solicitor General Elish Angiolini QC, said:
"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are working closely with police forces to implement a joint protocol on police reporting which allows early and effective action and greater scope for police to use more immediate measures to deal with the most minor crimes - such as police warnings and fixed penalties - instead of sending a report to the Fiscal.
"These statistics are proof that that the police and Procurators Fiscal are dealing with crime in the most appropriate manner, ranging from immediate action on the part of the police such as warning and fixed penalties through to reporting to the Procurator Fiscal for criminal proceedings."
Chief Constable David Strang, Chair of the Criminal Justice Business Area of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said:
"ACPOS along with the Crown Office and other prosecuting agencies is aware that there is a need to reduce the volume of cases going through the courts. This is particularly relevant within the summary justice system, which deals with crimes at the minor end of the scale.
We are working with our partners in the Criminal Justice area to look at a number of non-reporting options, which include fixed penalties and warning letters. A vast amount of work is already underway to address these issues and we expect to see even more positive results in the future."