PART 5Protection for victims, witnesses, etc in legal proceedings

Special measures

I162Special measures in criminal proceedings for offences involving domestic abuse

1

Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (giving of evidence or information for purposes of criminal proceedings: special measures directions in case of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses) is amended as follows.

2

In section 17 (witnesses eligible for assistance on grounds of fear or distress about testifying)—

a

in subsection (4), for “a sexual offence or an offence under section 1 or 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015” substitute “ an offence listed in subsection (4A) ”;

b

after subsection (4) insert—

4A

The offences are—

a

a sexual offence;

b

an offence under section 1 or 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015;

c

any other offence where it is alleged that the behaviour of the accused amounted to domestic abuse within the meaning of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (see section 1 of that Act).

3

In section 25(4)(a) (evidence given in private), for “a sexual offence or an offence under section 1 or 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015” substitute “ an offence listed in section 17(4A) ”.