Part IV Witnesses and Evidence

Evidence in criminal cases

103F1 Evidence of persons under 14 in committal proceedings for assault, sexual offences etc.

F21

In any proceedings before a magistrates’ court inquiring as examining justices into an offence to which this section applies, a statement made in writing by or taken in writing from a child shall be admissible in evidence of any matter.

2

This section applies—

a

to an offence which involves an assault, or injury or a threat of injury to, a person;

b

to an offence under section 1 of the M1Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (cruelty to persons under 16);

c

to an offence under the M2 Sexual Offences Act 1956, the M4Indecency with Children Act 1960, the M5Sexual Offences Act 1967, section 54 of the M6Criminal Law Act 1977 or the M3Protection of Children Act 1978; and

d

to an offence which consists of attempting or conspiring to commit, or of aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting the commission of, an offence falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above.

F33

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F34

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F45

In this section “child” has the same meaning as in section 53 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.