The Parole Board Rules 2011

Hearing procedure

25.—(1) At the beginning of the hearing the chair shall—

(a) explain the order of proceeding which the panel proposes to adopt; and

(b) invite each party present to state their view as to the suitability of the prisoner for release.

(2) The panel—

(a) shall avoid formality in the proceedings;

(b) may ask any question to satisfy itself of the level of risk of the prisoner; and

(c) shall conduct the hearing in a manner it considers most suitable to the clarification of the issues before it and to the just handling of the proceedings.

(3) The parties shall be entitled to—

(a) take such part in the proceedings as the panel thinks fit;

(b) hear each other’s evidence;

(c) put questions to each other;

(d) call a witness who has been granted permission to give evidence; and

(e) question any witness or other person appearing before the panel.

(4) If, in the chair’s opinion, any person at the hearing is behaving in a disruptive manner, the chair may require that person to leave.

(5) The chair may permit a person who was required to leave under paragraph (4) to return on such conditions as the chair may specify.

(6) A panel may produce or receive in evidence any document or information whether or not it would be admissible in a court of law.

(7) No person shall be compelled to give any evidence or produce any document which they could not be compelled to give or produce on the trial of an action.

(8) The chair may require any person present to leave the hearing where evidence which has been directed to be withheld from the prisoner or their representative is to be considered.

(9) After all the evidence has been given, the prisoner shall be given an opportunity to address the panel.