This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts 2002
26/02/2004
Figures released today show that a total of 125,000 convictions in Scottish courts in 2002, 4 per cent more than in 2001.
Increases in convictions for crimes such as serious assault, shoplifting, drugs and drunk driving were only partly offset by decreases for crimes such as robbery, other theft and speeding.
Other main findings of the National Statistics publication include:
- Eighty-six per cent of persons proceeded against in court in 2002 were convicted
- The number of custodial sentences imposed in 2002 was 16,800, 83 per cent of which were for six months or less
- In 2002, the number of convictions resulting in a community sentence was 15,200 (12 per cent more than in 2001). These mainly comprised sentences of a probation order (9,200 including 1,300 sentences of probation with a requirement that the offender shall perform unpaid work) and community service (5,000). The average length of community service orders imposed in 2002 was 153 hours. Other community sentences available in 2002 included restriction of liberty orders (495 convictions) and drug treatment and testing orders (448 convictions)
- In 2002, 63 per cent of all convictions resulted in a fine or compensation order as the main penalty, compared with 73 per cent in 1993. Excluding company fines, the average fine imposed in 2002 was £200; the average value of compensation order imposed was £220
- Of the 44,300 individuals convicted at least once in 2002 for a crime or offences such as common assault or breach of the peace, 67 per cent had at least one such previous conviction in 1993-2002 including 14 per cent with over 10 previous convictions
- In 2002 the police made 161,400 conditional offers of a fixed penalty (two-thirds of which were for speeding offences). The average fine imposed for motor vehicle offences with a charge proved in 2002 was £166. The average length of driving ban imposed was 21 months
- A total of 157,300 fixed penalty notices were issued by the police for stationary vehicle offences in 2002, 64 per cent of which were for parking and waiting offences and 36 per cent for failing to display a road tax disk
- In 2002, City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City Councils issued 242,700 and 267,400 penalty charge notices respectively for parking infringements
Revenues from these notices and from vehicle removals totalled £7.1 million in Edinburgh and £6.6 million in Glasgow. A smaller number (4,100) of penalty notices were also issued by Perth & Kinross Council.