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Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999

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Changes over time for: Section 19

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Version Superseded: 06/12/2006

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Point in time view as at 23/02/2004. This version of this provision has been superseded. Help about Status

Changes to legislation:

Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, Section 19 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 28 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

19 Special measures direction relating to eligible witness.E+W
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

(1)This section applies where in any criminal proceedings—

(a)a party to the proceedings makes an application for the court to give a direction under this section in relation to a witness in the proceedings other than the accused, or

(b)the court of its own motion raises the issue whether such a direction should be given.

(2)Where the court determines that the witness is eligible for assistance by virtue of section 16 or 17, the court must then—

(a)determine whether any of the special measures available in relation to the witness (or any combination of them) would, in its opinion, be likely to improve the quality of evidence given by the witness; and

(b)if so—

(i)determine which of those measures (or combination of them) would, in its opinion, be likely to maximise so far as practicable the quality of such evidence; and

(ii)give a direction under this section providing for the measure or measures so determined to apply to evidence given by the witness.

(3)In determining for the purposes of this Chapter whether any special measure or measures would or would not be likely to improve, or to maximise so far as practicable, the quality of evidence given by the witness, the court must consider all the circumstances of the case, including in particular—

(a)any views expressed by the witness; and

(b)whether the measure or measures might tend to inhibit such evidence being effectively tested by a party to the proceedings.

(4)A special measures direction must specify particulars of the provision made by the direction in respect of each special measure which is to apply to the witness’s evidence.

(5)In this Chapter “special measures direction” means a direction under this section.

(6)Nothing in this Chapter is to be regarded as affecting any power of a court to make an order or give leave of any description (in the exercise of its inherent jurisdiction or otherwise)—

(a)in relation to a witness who is not an eligible witness, or

(b)in relation to an eligible witness where (as, for example, in a case where a foreign language interpreter is to be provided) the order is made or the leave is given otherwise than by reason of the fact that the witness is an eligible witness.

Commencement Information

I1S. 19 wholly in force at 24.7.2002; Pt. II Chs. 1-4 (ss. 16-52) in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 68(4); s. 19 in force in so far as not already in force at 24.7.2002 by S.I. 2002/1739, art. 2(a)

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