Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019

Timeframes for vulnerable witness notices

7 Timeframe for considering vulnerable witness notice

(1) The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 271A(3A), for “measure, subsection (3)(a) does not apply” substitute “measure—

(a) subsection (3)(a) does not apply, and

(b) subsection (5) has effect as if the words “not earlier than 7 days and” were omitted”.

8 Vulnerable witness notice: lodging deadline

(1) The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 271A(13A), for paragraphs (a) to (c) substitute—

“(a) any time before a date has been fixed for one of the following—

(i) a preliminary hearing in the High Court,

(ii) a first diet in the sheriff court, or

(iii) a hearing at which the evidence is to be given, or

(b) if a date has been fixed—

(i) for a preliminary hearing in the High Court, no later than 14 clear days before the preliminary hearing,

(ii) for a first diet in the sheriff court in the case of proceedings on indictment, no later than 7 clear days before the first diet, or

(iii) in a case in which the proceedings are not to take place in the High Court or on indictment in the sheriff court, for a hearing at which the evidence is to be given, no later than 14 clear days before that hearing.”.

Reporting requirement”.