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9 Commentary: Bail Orders and Offences ( Tables 15 to 19)
9.1.1 The total number of bail orders made in 2005/06 was 56,900, an increase of 7 per cent from 2004/05. Increases between these years were greatest where the main charge was "other" crimes (which includes crimes against public justice) (up 18 per cent), "miscellaneous" offences (which includes breach of social work orders, racially aggravated harassment and various other statutory and common law offences) (up 21 per cent), or breach of the peace (up 16 per cent). There were decreases for the categories of crimes of dishonesty (down 5 per cent), and crimes of violence (down by 2 per cent).
9.1.2 The 56,900 bail orders made in 2005/06 represented an increase of 42 per cent since 2001/02. Increases over this period have been greatest for the main charge categories of miscellaneous offences (up 128 per cent to 3,200) and breach of the peace (up 100 per cent to 6,700), Increases have been lowest for motor vehicle offences (up 1 per cent to 3,800) and crimes of dishonesty (up 3 per cent to 11,600). The number of bail orders granted expressed as a percentage of the numbers of crimes cleared up by the police has shown an overall increase from 6 per cent in 2001/02 to 8 per cent in 2005/06. Percentages by each type of offence has shown some variation, for instance the number of bail orders made in 2005/06 for non-sexual crimes of violence represented 51 per cent of all crimes cleared up for this type offence in that year, while the number of bail orders made for motor vehicle offences represented only 1 per cent of all crimes cleared up for that type of offence.
9.1.3 Over half (51 per cent) of the total number of bail orders made in 2005/06 were accounted for by those where the main charge was a crime of dishonesty (20 per cent of all orders), common assault (19 per cent of all orders), and breach of the peace (12 per cent of all orders). Males accounted for 84 per cent of all orders made. Those aged 21-30 and over 30 accounted for 36 per cent and 39 per cent respectively of all orders made. Most (89 per cent) bail orders made in 2005/06 were issued at Sheriff Courts, with District (including Stipendiary Court) making up most of the remainder.
9.1.4 Of the total of 176,600 offences with a charge proved in 2005/06, 25,600 (14 per cent) had a bail aggravator recorded against them, indicating that these offences were committed while the offender was on bail. Crimes and offence categories with a relatively high percentage of bail aggravator recording include crimes of dishonesty (27 per cent), "other" crimes of indecency (28 per cent), robbery (20 per cent), crimes against public justice (30 per cent) and handling an offensive weapon (20 per cent). Crimes and offence categories with a relatively low percentage of bail aggravator recording include serious assault and attempted murder (9 per cent), lewd and indecent behaviour (4 per cent) and motor vehicle offences (7 per cent).
9.1.5 A total of 5,800 bail offences (other than committing an offence on bail) had a charge proved in 2005/06, a decrease of 5 per cent compared with 2004/05. For these offences, the use of monetary sentences as the main sentence in 2005/06 increased by 14 per cent from 2004/05, and the number of offences related to those aged 21 to 30 decreased by 10 per cent over the same time period.
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