Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25)

Part 3 U.K. Criminal evidence, investigations and procedure

Chapter 2 U.K. Anonymity of witnesses

Interpretation U.K.

97 Interpretation of this Chapter U.K.

(1) In this Chapter—

• “court” means—

  (a)

  in relation to England and Wales, a magistrates' court, the Crown Court or the criminal division of the Court of Appeal,

  (b)

  in relation to Northern Ireland, a magistrates' court, the Crown Court, a county court exercising its criminal jurisdiction, the High Court or the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland, or

  (c)

  a service court;

• “criminal proceedings” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a court within paragraph (a) or (b) above (other than the High Court in Northern Ireland), criminal proceedings consisting of a trial or other hearing at which evidence falls to be given;

  (b)

  in relation to the High Court in Northern Ireland, proceedings relating to bail in respect of a person charged with or convicted of an offence where the proceedings consist of a hearing at which evidence falls to be given;

  (c)

  in relation to a service court, proceedings in respect of a service offence consisting of a trial or other hearing at which evidence falls to be given;

• “the defendant”, in relation to any criminal proceedings, means any person charged with an offence to which the proceedings relate (whether or not convicted);

• “prosecutor” means any person acting as prosecutor, whether an individual or body;

• “service court” means—

  (a)

  the Court Martial established by the Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52),

  (b)

  the Summary Appeal Court established by that Act,

  (c)

  the Service Civilian Court established by that Act, or

  (d)

  the Court Martial Appeal Court;

• “service offence” has the meaning given by section 50(2) of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52);

• “witness”, in relation to any criminal proceedings, means any person called, or proposed to be called, to give evidence at the trial or hearing in question;

• “witness anonymity order” has the meaning given by section 86.

(2) In the case of a witness anonymity order made by a magistrates' court in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, a thing authorised or required by section 91 or 92 to be done by the court by which the order was made may be done by any magistrates' court acting in the same local justice area, or for the same petty sessions district, as that court.