Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999

General prohibitions E+W

34 Complainants in proceedings for sexual offences. E+W

No person charged with a sexual offence may in any criminal proceedings cross-examine in person a witness who is the complainant, either—

(a) in connection with that offence, or

(b) in connection with any other offence (of whatever nature) with which that person is charged in the proceedings.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 34 applied (with modifications) (6.12.2006) by The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Application to Courts-Martial) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2886), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C2 S. 34 applied (with modifications) (6.12.2006) by The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Application to Standing Civilian Courts) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2888), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C3 S. 34 applied (with modifications) (6.12.2006) by The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Application to the Courts-Martial Appeal Court) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2887), art. 1(1), Sch. (with art. 3)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 34 wholly in force at 4.9.2000; Pt. II Chs. 1-4 (ss. 16-52) in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 68(4); s. 34 in force at 4.9.2000 by S.I. 2000/2091, art. 2(a)

35 Child complainants and other child witnesses. E+W

(1) No person charged with an offence to which this section applies may in any criminal proceedings cross-examine in person a protected witness, either—

(a) in connection with that offence, or

(b) in connection with any other offence (of whatever nature) with which that person is charged in the proceedings.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a “protected witness” is a witness who—

(a) either is the complainant or is alleged to have been a witness to the commission of the offence to which this section applies, and

(b) either is a child or falls to be cross-examined after giving evidence in chief (whether wholly or in part)—

(i) by means of a video recording made (for the purposes of section 27) at a time when the witness was a child, or

(ii) in any other way at any such time.

(3) The offences to which this section applies are—

(a) any offence under—

F1 (i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1 (ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1 (iii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1 (iv) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F2 (iva) any of sections 33 to 36 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956,]

(v) the M1 Protection of Children Act 1978;[F3 or

(vi) Part 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 [F4 or any relevant superseded enactment];]

(b) kidnapping, false imprisonment or an offence under section 1 or 2 of the M2 Child Abduction Act 1984;

(c) any offence under section 1 of the M3 Children and Young Persons Act 1933;

(d) any offence (not within any of the preceding paragraphs) which involves an assault on, or injury or a threat of injury to, any person.

[F5 (3A) In subsection (3)(a)(vi) “relevant superseded enactment” means—

(a) any of sections 1 to 32 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956;

(b) the Indecency with Children Act 1960;

(c) the Sexual Offences Act 1967;

(d) section 54 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.]

(4) In this section “child” means—

(a) where the offence falls within subsection (3)(a), a person under the age of 17; or

(b) where the offence falls within subsection (3)(b), (c) or (d), a person under the age of 14.

(5) For the purposes of this section “witness” includes a witness who is charged with an offence in the proceedings.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 35(3)(a)(i)-(iv) repealed (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), s. 141, Sch. 7; S.I. 2004/874, art. 2

F2 S. 35(3)(a)(iva) inserted (retrospective to 1.5.2004) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), Sch. 26 paras. 36(2)(a), 38

F3 S. 35(3)(a)(vi) and preceding word inserted (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), s. 141, Sch. 6 para. 41(2); S.I. 2004/874, art. 2

F4 Words in s. 35(3)(a)(vi) inserted (retrospective to 1.5.2004) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), Sch. 26 paras. 36(2)(b), 38

F5 S. 35(3A) inserted (retrospective to 1.5.2004) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), Sch. 26 paras. 36(3), 38

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 35 applied (with modifications) (6.12.2006) by The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Application to the Courts-Martial Appeal Court) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2887), art. 1(1), Sch. (with art. 3)

C5 S. 35 applied (with modifications) (6.12.2006) by The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Application to Courts-Martial) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2886), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C6 S. 35 applied (with modifications) (6.12.2006) by The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Application to Standing Civilian Courts) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2888), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

Commencement Information

I2 S. 35 wholly in force at 4.9.2000; Pt. II Chs. 1-4 (ss. 16-52) in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 68(4); s. 35 in force at 4.9.2000 by S.I. 2000/2091, art. 2(b)

Marginal Citations

M1 1978 c. 37.

M2 1984 c. 37.

M3 1933 c. 12.