Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

[F1 288C Prohibition of personal conduct of defence in cases of certain sexual offences S

[F2 (1) An accused charged with a sexual offence to which this section applies is prohibited from conducting his case in person at, or for the purposes of, any relevant hearing in the course of proceedings (other than proceedings in a JP court) in respect of the offence.

(1A) In subsection (1), “relevant hearing” means a hearing at, or for the purposes of, which a witness is to give evidence.]

(2) This section applies to the following sexual offences—

(a) rape [F3 (whether at common law or under section 1(1) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 9))];

(b) sodomy;

(c) clandestine injury to women;

(d) abduction of a woman or girl with intent to rape;

[F4 (da) abduction with intent to commit the statutory offence of rape;]

(e) assault with intent to rape;

[F5 (ea) assault with intent to commit the statutory offence of rape;]

(f) indecent assault;

(g) indecent behaviour (including any lewd, indecent or libidinous practice or behaviour);

(h) an offence under section [F6 311 (non-consensual sexual acts) or 313 (persons providing care services: sexual offences) of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003];

(i) an offence under any of the following provisions of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)(Scotland) Act 1995 (c.39)—

(i) sections 1 to 3 (incest and related offences);

(ii) section 5 (unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 or 16);

(iii) section 6 (indecent behaviour toward girl between 12 and 16);

(iv) section 7(2) and (3)(procuring by threats etc. );

(v) section 8 (abduction and unlawful detention);

(vi) section 10 (seduction, prostitution, etc. of girl under 16);

(vii) section 13(5)(b) or (c)(homosexual offences);

[F7 (j) an offence under any of the following provisions of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 9)—

(i) section 2 (sexual assault by penetration),

(ii) section 3 (sexual assault),

(iii) section 4 (sexual coercion),

(iv) section 5 (coercing a person into being present during a sexual activity),

(v) section 6 (coercing a person into looking at a sexual image),

(vi) section 7(1) (communicating indecently),

(vii) section 7(2) (causing a person to see or hear an indecent communication),

(viii) section 8 (sexual exposure),

(ix) section 9 (voyeurism),

(x) section 18 (rape of a young child),

(xi) section 19 (sexual assault on a young child by penetration),

(xii) section 20 (sexual assault on a young child),

(xiii) section 21 (causing a young child to participate in a sexual activity),

(xiv) section 22 (causing a young child to be present during a sexual activity),

(xv) section 23 (causing a young child to look at a sexual image),

(xvi) section 24(1) (communicating indecently with a young child),

(xvii) section 24(2) (causing a young child to see or hear an indecent communication),

(xviii) section 25 (sexual exposure to a young child),

(xix) section 26 (voyeurism towards a young child),

(xx) section 28 (having intercourse with an older child),

(xxi) section 29 (engaging in penetrative sexual activity with or towards an older child),

(xxii) section 30 (engaging in sexual activity with or towards an older child),

(xxiii) section 31 (causing an older child to participate in a sexual activity),

(xxiv) section 32 (causing an older child to be present during a sexual activity),

(xxv) section 33 (causing an older child to look at a sexual image),

(xxvi) section 34(1) (communicating indecently with an older child),

(xxvii) section 34(2) (causing an older child to see or hear an indecent communication),

(xxviii) section 35 (sexual exposure to an older child),

(xxix) section 36 (voyeurism towards an older child),

(xxx) section 37(1) (engaging while an older child in sexual conduct with or towards another older child),

(xxxi) section 37(4) (engaging while an older child in consensual sexual conduct with another older child),

(xxxii) section 42 (sexual abuse of trust) but only if the condition set out in section 43(6) of that Act is fulfilled,

(xxxiii) section 46 (sexual abuse of trust of a mentally disordered person);]

[F8 (k) attempting to commit any of the offences set out in paragraphs (a) to (j).]

(3) This section applies also to an offence in respect of which a court having jurisdiction to try that offence has made an order under subsection (4) below.

(4) Where, in the case of any offence, other than one set out in subsection (2) above, that court is satisfied that there appears to be such a substantial sexual element in the alleged commission of the offence that it ought to be treated, for the purposes of this section, in the same way as an offence set out in that subsection, the court shall, either on the application of the prosecutor or ex proprio motu, make an order under this subsection.

(5) The making of such an order does not affect the validity of anything which—

(a) was done in relation to the alleged offence to which the order relates; and

(b) was done before the order was made.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may by order made by statutory instrument vary the sexual offences to which this section applies by virtue of subsection (2) above by modifying that subsection.

(7) No such statutory instrument shall be made, however, unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

[F9 (8) F10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[F11 (9) In subsection (2)—

(a) the references to “rape” in paragraphs (d) and (e) are to the offence of rape at common law; and

(b) the references to “the statutory offence of rape” in paragraphs (da) and (ea) are (as the case may be) to?

(i) the offence of rape under section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, or

(ii) the offence of rape of a young child under section 18 of that Act.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 288C and cross-heading inserted (1.11.2002) by Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 9), s. 1; S.S.I. 2002/443, art. 3 (with art. 4(1)(2))

F2 S. 288C(1)(1A) substituted for s. 288C(1) (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 69(2)(a), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.

F3 Words in s. 288C(2)(a) inserted (1.12.2010) by Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 9), ss. 61, 62(2), Sch. 5 para. 2(7)(a); S.S.I. 2010/357, art. 2(a)

F4 S. 288C(2)(da) inserted (1.12.2010) by The Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (Supplemental and Consequential Provisions) Order 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/421), art. 2, Sch. para. 1(4)(a)(i)

F5 S. 288C(2)(ea) inserted (1.12.2010) by The Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (Supplemental and Consequential Provisions) Order 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/421), art. 2, Sch. para. 1(4)(a)(ii)

F6 Words in s. 288C(2)(h) substituted (27.9.2005) by The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (Modification of Enactments) Order 2005 (S.S.I. 2005/465), art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 27(5)

F7 S. 288C(2)(j) substituted (1.12.2010) by Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 9), ss. 61, 62(2), Sch. 5 para. 2(7)(b); S.S.I. 2010/357, art. 2(a)

F8 S. 288C(2)(k) inserted (1.12.2010) by Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 9), ss. 61, 62(2), Sch. 5 para. 2(7)(c); S.S.I. 2010/357, art. 2(a)

F9 S. 288C(8) inserted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 55(b); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (with savings in arts. 3-5)

F10 S. 288C(8) repealed (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 69(2)(b), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.

F11 S. 288C(9) inserted (1.12.2010) by The Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (Supplemental and Consequential Provisions) Order 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/421), art. 2, Sch. para. 1(4)(b)