Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20)

14 (1) Section 57 (interpretation) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) insert at the relevant places—

““duly approved” means approved for the purposes of section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 by the Secretary of State as having special experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorder (within the meaning of that Act);”;

““hospital order” has the meaning given in section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983;”;

““interim hospital order” has the meaning given in section 38 of that Act;”;

““judicial officer” has the same meaning as in the relevant Service Act;”;

““restriction order” has the meaning given to it by section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983;”;

““supervision order” means an order which requires the person in respect of whom it is made to be under the supervision of another person for a period specified in the order of not more than two years.”

(3) After subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) For the purposes of the provisions of sections 16 and 23 of this Act which permit the Appeal Court to act on the written evidence of a registered medical practitioner or a registered medical practitioner who is duly approved, a report in writing purporting to be signed by a registered medical practitioner or a registered medical practitioner who is duly approved may, subject to subsection (2B) below, be received in evidence without proof of the signature of the practitioner and without proof that he has the requisite qualifications or is duly approved; but the Appeal Court may require the signatory of any such report to be called to give oral evidence.

(2B) Where, in pursuance of a direction of the Appeal Court, any such report is tendered in evidence otherwise than by or on behalf of the appellant, then—

(a) if the appellant is represented by counsel or a solicitor, a copy of the report shall be given to his counsel or solicitor;

(b) if the appellant is not so represented, the substance of the report shall be disclosed to him; and

(c) the appellant may require the signatory of the report to be called to give oral evidence, and evidence to rebut the evidence contained in the report may be called by the appellant or on his behalf.”