Explanatory Notes

Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999

1999 CHAPTER 23

27 July 1999

Commentary on Sections

Part II: Giving of evidence or information for purposes of criminal proceedings

Chapter I: Special Measures directions in case of vulnerable or intimidated witnesses
Section 24: Evidence by live link

107.This section allows witnesses to give evidence by live link. This would usually mean a closed circuit television link, but the section is drafted sufficiently widely to apply to any technology with the same effect.

108.Subsections (2) and (3) are intended to create a presumption that a witness who gives evidence by live link for a part of the proceedings will continue to give evidence by this means throughout.

109.Subsections (5) and (6) describe how temporary facilities may be made available to magistrates’ courts for the purposes of hearing evidence by live link.