PART 3Proceedings before the Tribunal
CHAPTER 2Hearings
Public and private hearings30
1
Subject to the following paragraphs, all hearings must be held in public.
2
A hearing in a criminal injuries compensation case must be held in private unless—
a
the appellant has consented to the hearing being held in public; and
b
the Tribunal considers that it is in the interests of justice for the hearing to be held in public.
3
The Tribunal may give a direction that a hearing, or part of it, is to be held in private.
F13A
Without prejudice to paragraph (3), the Tribunal may direct that a hearing, or part of it, is to be held in private if—
a
the Tribunal directs that the proceedings are to be conducted wholly or partly as video proceedings or audio proceedings;
b
it is not reasonably practicable for such a hearing, or such part, to be accessed in a court or tribunal venue by persons who are not parties entitled to participate in the hearing;
c
a media representative is not able to access the proceedings remotely while they are taking place; and
d
such a direction is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice.
4
Where a hearing, or part of it, is to be held in private, the Tribunal may determine who is permitted to attend the hearing or part of it.
5
The Tribunal may give a direction excluding from any hearing, or part of it—
a
any person whose conduct the Tribunal considers is disrupting or is likely to disrupt the hearing;
b
any person whose presence the Tribunal considers is likely to prevent another person from giving evidence or making submissions freely;
c
any person who the Tribunal considers should be excluded in order to give effect to a direction under rule 14(2) (withholding information likely to cause harm); or
d
any person where the purpose of the hearing would be defeated by the attendance of that person.
6
The Tribunal may give a direction excluding a witness from a hearing until that witness gives evidence.