Part III Course of Justice: Evidence, Procedure, Etc.

Corroboration

C132 Abolition of corroboration rules.

1

Any requirement whereby at a trial on indictment it is obligatory for the court to give the jury a warning about convicting the accused on the uncorroborated evidence of a person merely because that person is—

a

an alleged accomplice of the accused, or

b

where the offence charged is a sexual offence, the person in respect of whom it is alleged to have been committed,

is hereby abrogated.

2

In section 34(2) of the M1Criminal Justice Act 1988 (abolition of requirement of corroboration warning in respect of evidence of a child) the words from “in relation to” to the end shall be omitted.

3

Any requirement that—

a

is applicable at the summary trial of a person for an offence, and

b

corresponds to the requirement mentioned in subsection (1) above or that mentioned in section 34(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988,

is hereby abrogated.

4

Nothing in this section applies in relation to—

a

any trial, or

b

any proceedings before a magistrates’ court as examining justices,

which began before the commencement of this section.

33 Abolition of corroboration requirements under Sexual Offences Act 1956.

1

The following provisions of the M2Sexual Offences Act 1956 (which provide that a person shall not be convicted of the offence concerned on the evidence of one witness only unless the witness is corroborated) are hereby repealed—

a

section 2(2) (procurement of woman by threats),

b

section 3(2) (procurement of woman by false pretences),

c

section 4(2) (administering drugs to obtain or facilitate intercourse),

d

section 22(2) (causing prostitution of women), and

e

section 23(2) (procuration of girl under twenty-one).

2

Nothing in this section applies in relation to—

a

any trial, or

b

any proceedings before a magistrates’ court as examining justices,

which began before the commencement of this section.