Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

283 Evidence as to time and place of video surveillance recordings. S

(1) For the purposes of any criminal proceedings, a certificate purporting to be signed by a person responsible for the operation of a video surveillance system and certifying—

(a) the location of the camera;

(b) the nature and extent of the person’s responsibility for the system; and

(c) that visual images [F1 (and any sounds) recorded on a particular device are images (and sounds), recorded by the system, of (or relating to)] events which occurred at a place specified in the certificate at a time and date so specified,

shall, subject to subsection (2) below, be sufficient evidence of the matters contained in the certificate.

(2) A party proposing to rely on subsection (1) above (“the first party”) shall, not less than 14 days before the [F2 relevant] diet, serve on the other party (“the second party”) a copy of the certificate and, if the second party serves on the first party, not more than seven days after the date of service of the copy certificate on him, a notice that he does not accept the evidence contained in the certificate, subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to that evidence.

[F3 (2A) In subsection (2) above, “the relevant diet” means—

(a) in the case of proceedings in the High Court, the preliminary hearing;

(b) in any other case, the trial diet.]

(3) A copy certificate or notice served in accordance with subsection (2) above shall be served in such manner as may be prescribed by Act of Adjournal; and a written execution purporting to be signed by the person who served the copy or notice together with, where appropriate, the relevant post office receipt shall be sufficient evidence of such service.

(4) In this section, “video surveillance system” means apparatus consisting of a camera mounted in a fixed position and associated equipment for transmitting and recording visual images of events occurring in any place [F4 (and includes associated equipment for transmitting and recording sounds relating to such events)].

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 283(1)(c) substituted (10.12.2007) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 23(a); S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3(1), Sch. (as amended by 2007/527)

F2 Word in s. 283(2) substituted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 52(a); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (with savings in arts. 3-5)

F3 S. 283(2A) inserted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 52(b); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (with savings in arts. 3-5)

F4 Words in s. 283(4) inserted (10.12.2007) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 23(b); S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3(1), Sch. (as amended by 2007/527)