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, F3. . . M3the Protection of Children Act 1978 F4or Part 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 ; and

C1d

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.

F53

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F65

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