Domestic Abuse Act 2021

62 Special measures in criminal proceedings for offences involving domestic abuse E+W

(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) ”.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 62 in force at 19.5.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2022/553, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(a)