CorroborationE+W
32 Abolition of corroboration rules.E+W
(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.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 32 explained by 1996 c. 46, s. 6(1)(2); S.I. 1996/2474, art. 2 (with art. 3)
Marginal Citations
33 Abolition of corroboration requirements under Sexual Offences Act 1956.E+W
(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convicted of the offence concerned on the evidence of one witness only unless the witness is corroborated) are hereby repealed—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.
Marginal Citations