The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Commencement No. 16) Order 2019

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

Section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (c. 23) (“the Act”) provides that where a witness’s video recorded interview has been admitted as their evidence in chief under section 27 of the Act the court may also direct that any cross-examination and re-examination of that witness may be video recorded and that recording may be admitted as evidence.

Article 2 of this Order makes provision for the coming into force of section 28 of the Act on 3rd June 2019 for the purposes of proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Kingston-upon-Thames, Leeds or Liverpool, where the witness is eligible for special measures under section 17(4) of the Act.

Section 28 was partially brought into force by S.I. 2013/3236 in relation to proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at those locations, where the witness was eligible by virtue of section 16(1)(a) and was under the age of 16 at the time of the hearing, or by virtue of section 16(1)(b) of the Act, owing to an incapacity.

S.I. 2016/1201 expanded the availability of section 28 directions in the Crown Court sitting at those locations, so that they could also be made in relation to witnesses who are aged 16 or 17 at the time of the hearing.

This Order further expands the availability of such directions in the Crown Court sitting at those locations, so that they may be made in relation to complainants in respect of a sexual offence or modern slavery offence who are witnesses in proceedings relating to that offence, or that offence and any other offences.

Article 2 also makes provision for the coming into force of section 28 on 3rd June 2019 for the purposes of proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Bradford, Carlisle, Chester, Durham, Mold and Sheffield, where the witness is eligible for special measures made under section 16 of the Act.