Rape convictions more than double in Scotland

The number of convictions increased by 105 per cent from 78 in 2020/21 to 160 in 2021/22, according to National Statistics published by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

There was also a significant increase in convictions for crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, which jumped by more than 80 per cent in 2021/22 compared with the previous 12 months.

The total number of people proceeded against in Scottish courts rose by 45 per cent to 67,643 in the year to 2021/22,

The number of people convicted also rose at a similar rate, up 39 per cent to 59,295.

However, the Chief Statistician cautioned that these increases follow steep falls as a result of reduced court activity during the pandemic.

“These figures continue to reflect the impact of Covid-19 on the justice system. As the data continues to be affected by the pandemic and the justice system’s recovery, figures for 2021/22, alongside those from 2020/21, should not be considered indicative of longer-term trends,” said Ally McAlpine.

Increases were seen across all crime and offence groups. Convictions for non-sexual crimes of violence rose 37 per cent and sexual crimes were up 52 per cent.

Convictions for crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 rose by 81 per cent, from 381 convictions in 2020/21 to 689 in 2021/22.

The number of people convicted of a crime with a statutory domestic abuse aggravation increased by 20 per cent in 2021/22 to 7,803 convictions compared with 6,529 in 2020/21.

The total number of convictions rose by 39 per cent, however, those resulting in a custodial sentence increased by 13 per cent – from 7,239 in 2020/21 to 8,169 in 2021/22). Custodial sentences represented 14 per cent of sentences imposed for all convictions in 2021/22.

The average length of custodial sentence for all crimes, excluding life sentences, in 2021/22 was 376 days, which is 14 per cent longer than in 2020/21 (329 days).

In 2021/22, 24 per cent (14,160) of people convicted were given a community sentence – a 45 per cent increase compared with the previous year (9,783).

The number of bail orders remained relatively static – 24,538 in 2021/22 compared with 24,645 in 2020-21. There were 24,615 undertakings to appear in court, a fall of two per cent from 2020/21 (25,073 undertakings).

“There are a number of measures available to the police and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for dealing with minor offences directly. These non-court disposals saw less pronounced changes over the past two years than court disposals,” said the Chief Statistician.

Police disposals rose by two per cent over the year to 31,247 in 2021/22. Recorded police warnings made up 65 per cent (20,245) of all police disposals this year and most were issued for drugs offences, breach of the peace, and common assault.

The number of COPFS disposals decreased by five per cent between 2020/21 and 2021/22.

The Chief Statistician said this was driven by a 28 per cent decrease in the number of fiscal warnings, although the same span saw increases in fiscal fixed penalties (up 12 per cent) and fiscal combined fines and compensation (up 35 per cent).