The following table sets out the number of accused receiving a direct measure as a first substantive marking compared to the total number of accused receiving a first substantive marking (all types including: court, direct measure, no action, no decision) in cases including an assault charge (within the Scottish Government Classification of “Common Assault”): Year 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 Direct Measure 3,178 2,717 2,528 2,159 2,500 Total 25,926 25,052 23,409 22,896 23,059 Direct measures include a range of alternatives to prosecution, namely: fiscal fines, compensation orders, combined fiscal fine and compensation orders, fiscal work orders, diversion from prosecution, referral to the Children’s Reporter and warning letters. S6W...