Crime and Disorder Act 1998

[F1 57B Use of live link at preliminary hearings [F2 where accused is in custody] E+W

(1) This section applies in relation to a preliminary hearing in a magistrates' court or the Crown Court.

[F3 (2) Where it appears to the court before which the preliminary hearing is to take place that the accused is likely to be held in custody during the hearing, the court may give a live link direction under this section in relation to the attendance of the accused at the hearing.

(3) A live link direction under this section is a direction requiring the accused, if he is being held in custody during the hearing, to attend it through a live link from the place at which he is being held.]

[F3 (2) The court may, by a direction (a “live link direction”), require or permit a person to take part in the preliminary hearing through—

(a) a live audio link, or

(b) a live video link.

(3) But the court may not give a direction for a person to take part in a preliminary hearing through a live audio link or a live video link unless—

(a) the court is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice for the person concerned to take part in the preliminary hearing in accordance with the direction through the live audio link or through the live video link,

(b) the parties to the preliminary hearing have been given the opportunity to make representations,

(c) the relevant youth offending team has been given the opportunity to make representations, if it is a case where—

(i) the accused has not attained the age of 18 years, or

(ii) the accused has attained the age of 18 years since proceedings for the offence were begun, and the court has decided to continue to deal with the case as if he or she had not attained that age.

(3A) A direction under this section—

(a) may be given by the court of its own motion or on an application by a party; and

(b) may be given in relation to all subsequent preliminary hearings before the court or to such hearing or hearings as may be specified or described in the direction.

(3B) The power to give a live link direction under this section includes power to give—

(a) a direction for a judge or justice to take part in a preliminary hearing through a live audio link or a live video link;

(b) a direction that is applicable to several, or all, of the persons participating in a particular preliminary hearing;

(c) a direction that is applicable to a particular person in respect of only some aspects of a particular preliminary hearing (such as giving evidence or attending the hearing when not giving evidence);

(d) a direction for a person who is outside England and Wales (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) to take part in a preliminary hearing through a live audio link or a live video link.

(3C) The power of the court to give a direction under this section is subject to Schedule 3A (prohibitions and limitations on use of live links).

(3D) The court may vary a live link direction under this section; and the provisions of this section and Schedule 3A that apply to the giving of such a direction also apply to the variation of such a direction.

(3E) The court may rescind a live link direction under this section at any time before or during the preliminary hearing to which it relates (but this does not affect the court‘s power to give a further live link direction in relation to the hearing).

(3F) A live link direction under this section may not be rescinded unless—

(a) the court is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice for the direction to be rescinded,

(b) the parties to the preliminary hearing have been given the opportunity to make representations,

(c) the relevant youth offending team has been given the opportunity to make representations, if it is a case where—

(i) the accused has not attained the age of 18 years, or

(ii) the accused has attained the age of 18 years since proceedings for the offence were begun, and the court has decided to continue to deal with the case as if he or she had not attained that age.

(3G) A live link direction under this section may be varied or rescinded by the court of its own motion or on an application by a party; but such an application may not be made unless there has been a material change of circumstances since the direction was given.

(3H) If a hearing takes place in relation to the giving or rescinding of a live link direction under this section, the court may require or permit a person to take part in that hearing through—

(a) a live audio link, or

(b) a live video link.

(3I) In deciding whether to give or rescind a direction under this section the court must consider all the circumstances of the case.

(3J) Those circumstances include in particular—

(a) in the case of a direction relating to a witness—

(i) the importance of the witness's evidence to the hearing;

(ii) whether a direction might tend to inhibit any party from effectively testing the witness's evidence;

(b) in the case of a direction relating to any participant in the hearing—

(i) the availability of the person;

(ii) the need for the person to attend in person;

(iii) the views of the person;

(iv) the suitability of the facilities at the place where the person would take part in the hearing in accordance with the direction;

(v) whether the person will be able to take part in the hearing effectively if he or she takes part in accordance with the direction.]

[F4 (4) If a hearing takes place in relation to the giving or rescinding of such a direction, the court may require or permit a person attending the hearing to do so through a live link.]

[F4 (5) The court shall not give or rescind such a direction (whether at a hearing or otherwise) unless the parties to the proceedings have been given the opportunity to make representations.]

(6) If in a case where it has power to do so a magistrates' court decides not to give a live link direction under this section, it must—

(a) state in open court its reasons for not doing so; and

(b) cause those reasons to be entered in the register of its proceedings.

[F5 (7) The following functions of a magistrates' court under this section may be discharged by a single justice—

(a) giving a live link direction under this section;

(b) rescinding a live link direction before a preliminary hearing begins; and

(c) requiring or permitting a person to attend by live link a hearing about a matter within paragraph (a) or (b).]

[F6 (8) A court may not refuse or revoke bail for a person (P) at a preliminary hearing if—

(a) any person takes part in the hearing — other than for the purpose of giving evidence — through a live audio link, and

(b) P objects to the refusal or revocation.

(9) If any person takes part in a preliminary hearing— other than for the purpose of giving evidence — through a live audio link, the court may not—

(a) accept a guilty plea, or

(b) deal with a person for contempt of court (including enquiring into conduct and imposing punishment).]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 3A substituted (15.1.2007 for specified purposes, 1.4.2007 for specified purposes, 14.11.2008 for specified purposes, 3.10.2011 for specified purposes, 8.10.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 45, 53(1); S.I. 2006/3364, art. 2(g) (with art. 4); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(n) (with art. 6); S.I. 2008/2785, art. 2; S.I. 2011/2144, art. 2(1)(a); S.I. 2012/2373, art. 2(a)

F2 Words in s. 57B heading omitted (temp.) (25.3.2020) by virtue of Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 24 para. 3(2) (with ss. 88-90) (which affecting provision is continued by The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Delay in Expiry: Inquests, Courts and Tribunals, and Statutory Sick Pay) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/362), regs. 1(2), 2; but then repealed (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (2022 c. 32), ss. 201(1), 208(5)(z))

F3 S. 57B(2)-(3J) substituted for s. 57B(2)(3) (temp.) (25.3.2020) by virtue of Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 24 para. 3(3) (with ss. 88-90) (which affecting provision is continued by The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Delay in Expiry: Inquests, Courts and Tribunals, and Statutory Sick Pay) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/362), regs. 1(2), 2; but then repealed (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (2022 c. 32), ss. 201(1), 208(5)(z))

F4 S. 57B(4)(5) omitted (temp.) (25.3.2020) by virtue of Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 24 para. 3(4) (with ss. 88-90) (which affecting provision is continued by The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Delay in Expiry: Inquests, Courts and Tribunals, and Statutory Sick Pay) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/362), regs. 1(2), 2; but then repealed (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (2022 c. 32), ss. 201(1), 208(5)(z))

F5 S. 57B(7) added (14.12.2009) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 106(2), 182(5) (with s. 180, Sch. 22); S.I. 2009/3253, art. 2(a)(i) (with art. 4(1))

F6 S. 57B(8)(9) inserted (temp.) (25.3.2020) by virtue of Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 24 para. 3(5) (with ss. 88-90) (which affecting provision is continued by The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Delay in Expiry: Inquests, Courts and Tribunals, and Statutory Sick Pay) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/362), regs. 1(2), 2; but then repealed (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (2022 c. 32), ss. 201(1), 208(5)(z))