(1)This section applies where the Secretary of State receives a request, from an authority mentioned in subsection (2) (“the external authority”), for a person in the United Kingdom to give evidence through a live television link in criminal proceedings before a court in a country outside the United Kingdom.
Criminal proceedings include any proceedings on an appeal before a court against a decision in administrative proceedings.
(2)The authority referred to in subsection (1) is the authority in that country which appears to the Secretary of State to have the function of making requests of the kind to which this section applies.
(3)Unless he considers it inappropriate to do so, the Secretary of State must by notice in writing nominate a court in the United Kingdom where the witness may be heard in the proceedings in question through a live television link.
(4)Anything done by the witness in the presence of the nominated court which, if it were done in proceedings before the court, would constitute contempt of court is to be treated for that purpose as done in proceedings before the court.
(5)Any statement made on oath by a witness giving evidence in pursuance of this section is to be treated for the purposes of—
(a)section 1 of the Perjury Act 1911 (c. 6),
(b)Article 3 of the Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (S.I. 1979/ 1714 (N.I. 19)),
(c)sections 44 to 46 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 39) or, in relation to Scotland, any matter pertaining to the common law crime of perjury,
as made in proceedings before the nominated court.
(6)Part 1 of Schedule 2 (evidence given by television link) is to have effect.
(7)Subject to subsections (4) and (5) and the provisions of that Schedule, evidence given pursuant to this section is not to be treated for any purpose as evidence given in proceedings in the United Kingdom.
(8)In relation to Scotland, references in this section and Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Secretary of State are to be read as references to the Lord Advocate.
Commencement Information
I1S. 30 in force at 26.4.2004 by S.I. 2004/786, art. 3