Coronavirus Act 2020

Requirement to attend at court, holding proceedings in court etc

4 After section 53 there were inserted—

“53A Requirement to attend court, perjury

(1) A person who takes part in eligible criminal proceedings in accordance with a direction under section 51 is to be treated as complying with any requirement (however imposed or expressed) for that person to attend or appear before court, or to surrender to the custody of the court, for the purposes of that participation in those proceedings.

(2) A person who takes part in eligible criminal proceedings in accordance with a direction under section 51 is to be treated as present in court for the purposes of those proceedings.

(3) Eligible criminal proceedings that are conducted—

(a) wholly as audio proceedings, or

(b) wholly as video proceedings,

are to be regarded as taking place at the location where the member or members of the court take part in the proceedings.

(4) A statement made on oath by a witness outside the United Kingdom and given in evidence through a live audio link or a live video link in accordance with a direction under section 51 is to be treated for the purposes of section 1 of the Perjury Act 1911 as having been made in the proceedings in which it is given in evidence.”