Valid from 15/01/2007
57BUse of live link at preliminary hearings where accused is in custodyE+W
(1)This section applies in relation to a preliminary hearing in a magistrates' court or the Crown Court.
(2)Where it appears to the court before which the preliminary hearing is to take place that the accused is likely to be held in custody during the hearing, the court may give a live link direction under this section in relation to the attendance of the accused at the hearing.
(3)A live link direction under this section is a direction requiring the accused, if he is being held in custody during the hearing, to attend it through a live link from the place at which he is being held.
(4)If a hearing takes place in relation to the giving or rescinding of such a direction, the court may require or permit a person attending the hearing to do so through a live link.
(5)The court shall not give or rescind such a direction (whether at a hearing or otherwise) unless the parties to the proceedings have been given the opportunity to make representations.
(6)If in a case where it has power to do so a magistrates' court decides not to give a live link direction under this section, it must—
(a)state in open court its reasons for not doing so; and
(b)cause those reasons to be entered in the register of its proceedings.