| Annex:
Notes on Statistics Used |
| Interpretation
of Tables and Charts |
| A1
Persons are counted once for each occasion on which a
charge is proved against them, even where a number of
different proceedings are concluded on the same date. If
a person has a charge proved for more than one crime or
offence, only the main charge - the one receiving the
severest penalty - is counted. If more than one charge
receives the same penalty then the main charge is the one
judged by the police to be the most serious. The term
"person" as used here includes companies. |
| |
| A2
Some percentages are based on very small numbers. Fifty
percent where the total number of cases is 2 is a much
less robust figure than 50 percent where the number of
cases is 500, so caution should be exercised in comparing
percentages. In the case of the charts, which are all
based on percentages, courts in which 20 or fewer persons
have had a charge proved for the relevant offence have
not been included. Where appropriate, numbers as well as
percentages are given to assist interpretation. Note that
percentages may not always sum to 100 due to independent
rounding. |
| |
| A3
Average fines and sentence lengths are based on mean
values. If a few cases have high values, in particular
where persons or companies are fined for certain
statutory offences, then these cases will increase the
average for all cases. This can have a disproportionate
affect on the averages of courts with a relatively small
total number of cases. |
| |
| Key
to tables: |
| -
|
= |
0 |
|
| * |
= |
Less
than 0.5 |
|
| |
| Distinction
between Sheriff Solemn and Sheriff Summary Cases |
| |
| A4
Following the introduction of computerisation of case
recording to the sheriff courts, some police forces have
reported difficulties in distinguishing sheriff solemn
from sheriff summary cases. Where possible the Scottish
Office has identified those cases where the court type is
incorrect and appropriate changes have been made. It
remains possible however that some cases have been
allocated incorrectly by court type. |
| |
| Crime
Categories used in Sentencing Profiles |
| Solemn
Proceedings |
| Robbery |
Robbery
and assault with intent to rob. |
| Violence
excluding robbery |
Includes
homicide (including causing death by dangerous or
careless driving), attempted murder, serious assault,
handling offensive weapons and cruel and unnatural
treatment of children. |
| Crimes
of indecency |
Includes
sexual assault, lewd and libidinous practices, indecent
exposure and offences related to prostitution. |
| Housebreaking |
Includes
housebreaking and attempted housebreaking. |
| Theft
of motor vehicle |
Includes
theft of a motor vehicle and Road Traffic Act 1988
section 178. |
| Other
Theft |
Theft
excluding theft of a motor vehicle. |
| Fraud |
Fraud
including statutory fraud offences. |
| Other
Dishonesty |
Includes
forgery, corruption, bankruptcy offences and reset. |
| Damage |
Includes
fire-raising, malicious mischief, vandalism and reckless
conduct with firearms. |
| Drugs
offences |
Includes
supply and possession of drugs. |
| Crimes
against public justice |
Includes
perverting the course of justice, breach of bail
conditions, failure to appear at court and contempt of
court. |
| Simple
assault |
Includes
petty assault and resisting arrest. |
| Other
crimes |
Includes
breach of the peace, miscellaneous statutory |
| and
offences |
offences
and motor vehicle offences. |
| |
| Summary
Proceedings |
| Violence
and indecency |
Includes
homicide (including causing death by dangerous or
careless driving), attempted murder, serious assault,
robbery, handling offensive weapons, cruel and unnatural
treatment of children, sexual assault, lewd and
libidinous practices, indecent exposure and offences
related to prostitution. |
| Housebreaking |
Includes
housebreaking and attempted housebreaking. |
| Theft |
Theft
excluding theft by opening lockfast places, theft of a
motor vehicle and shoplifting. |
| Other
|
Includes
fraud, forgery, theft by opening lockfast places, |
| Dishonesty |
theft
of a motor vehicle and shoplifting and reset. |
| Damage |
Includes
fire-raising, malicious mischief, vandalism and reckless
conduct with firearms. |
| Other
crimes |
Includes
drugs offences and crimes against public justice. |
| Simple
assault |
Includes
petty assault and resisting arrest. |
| Breach
of the peace |
Includes
breach of the peace and offensive phone calls. |
| Drunkenness |
Includes
drunk and incapable, drunk in charge of child etc. |
| Wireless
and |
Offences
under Wireless and Telegraphy Act 1949, |
| Telegraphy
Act |
mainly
failure to pay television licence. |
| Other
miscellaneous offences |
Various
statutory offences for example animal, pollution, health
and safety, licensing and local government offences and
breaches of probation or community service order. |
| Dangerous
and careless driving |
Road
Traffic Act 1988, Sections 2 and 3. |
| Drunk
driving |
Road
Traffic Act 1988, Sections 4-7, includes driving while
under the influence of alcohol and drugs. |
| Vehicle
excise license offences |
Mainly
failure to pay /display vehicle excise licence. |
| Speeding |
Exceeding
speed limit. |
| Unlawful
use of vehicle |
Driving
while disqualified or without appropriate licence,
insurance or test certificate. |
| Other
motor vehicle offences |
Includes
traffic direction, seat belt, lighting and construction
and use offences. |
