In a letter to Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee, Crown Agent John Logue said the rise would add to pressure on victims, courts and prisons. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service expects about 3,000 High Court indictments in the next financial year.

“The scale of the challenge is significant”, Mr Logue wrote. He said the increase was temporary and planned for, with case numbers expected to fall in summer 2027. However, he said they would remain higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic, reflecting a “new normal”.

The Lord Justice General, Lord Pentland, has warned that “without systemwide change, the impact on victims, witnesses, accused, court users and the prison population, will be severe”. He said the effects would be felt most by people subjected to domestic abuse and sexual violence.

COPFS is redeploying staff from other high-priority work to help cases proceed within statutory time limits. Mr Logue said prosecutors would seek suitable opportunities to resolve cases without trial, but stressed that “the test for prosecution has not changed” and “every case will continue to be considered on its individual merits”.

The Scottish government said High Court capacity would rise to 26 trial courts a day from January, compared with 16 at the start of the decade. It said the work was supported by £11.6 billion of investment between 2026-27 and 2028-29.