Criminal Evidence Act 1898

1 Competency of witnesses in criminal cases. E+W+S

Every person charged with an offence, [F1 and the wife or husband, as the case may be, of the person so charged], shall be a competent witness for the defence at every stage of the proceedings, whether the person so charged is charged solely or jointly with any other person. Provided as follows:—

(a) A person so charged shall not be called as a witness in pursuance of this Act except upon his own application:

(b) The failure of any person charged with an offence, [F1 or of the wife or husband, as the case may be, of the person so charged], to give evidence shall not be made the subject of any comment by the prosecution:

[F2 (c) The wife or husband of the person charged shall not, save as in this Act mentioned, be called as a witness in pursuance of this Act except upon the application of the person so charged:]

[F3 (d) Nothing in this Act shall make a husband compellable to disclose any communication made to him by his wife during the marriage, or a wife compellable to disclose any communication made to her by her husband during the marriage:]

(e) A person charged and being a witness in pursuance of this Act may be asked any question in cross-examination notwithstanding that it would tend to criminate him as to the offence charged:

(f) A person charged and called as a witness in pursuance of this Act shall not be asked, and if asked shall not be required to answer, any question tending to show that he has committed or been convicted of or been charged with any offence other than that wherewith he is then charged, or is of bad character, unless—

(i) the proof that he has committed or been convicted of such other offence is admissible evidence to show that he is guilty of the offence wherewith he is then charged; or

(ii) he has personally or by his advocate asked questions of the witnesses for the prosecution with a view to establish his own good character, or has given evidence of his good character, or the nature or conduct of the defence is such as to involve imputations on the character of the prosecutor or the witnesses for the prosecution; or

(iii) he has given evidence against any other person charged [F4 in the same proceedings]:

(g) Every person called as a witness in pursuance of this Act shall, unless otherwise ordered by the court, give his evidence from the witness box or other place from which the other witnesses give their evidence:

(h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5

Textual Amendments

F1 Words repealed (E.W.) by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119, Sch. 7 Pt. V

F2 S. 1(c) repealed (E.W.) by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119, Sch. 7 Pt. V

F3 S. 1(d) repealed (E.W.) by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), ss. 80(9), 82(3), 119, Sch. 7 Pt. V

F4 Words substituted by Criminal Evidence Act 1979 (c. 16, SIF 47), s. 1(1) (subject to a saving in s. 1(2))

F5 S. 1(h) repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 78, Sch. 16

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 1 excluded (E.W.) by Children and Young Persons Act 1963 (c. 37), s. 16(2)

2 Evidence of person charged. E+W+S

Where the only witness to the facts of the case called by the defence is the person charged, he shall be called as a witness immediately after the close of the evidence for the prosecution.

3 Right of reply. E+W+S

[F6 In cases where the right of reply depends upon the question whether evidence has been called for the defence,] the fact that the person charged has been called as a witness shall not of itself confer on the prosecution the right of reply.

Textual Amendments

F6 Words repealed (E.W.) by Criminal Procedure (Right of Reply) Act 1964 (c. 34), s. 1(2)

[F7 4 Calling of wife or husband in certain cases. E+W+S

(1) The wife or husband of a person charged with an offence under any enactment mentioned in the schedule to this Act may be called as a witness either for the prosecution or defence and without the consent of the person charged.

(2) Nothing in this Act shall affect a case where the wife or husband of a person charged with an offence may at common law be called as a witness without the consent of that person.]

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 4 repealed (E.W.) by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119, Sch. 7 Pt. V

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8 E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F8 S. 5 repealed by Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), Sch. 10 Pt. I

6 Provisions as to previous Acts. E+W+S

(1) This Act shall apply to all criminal proceedings [F9 including proceedings in courts-martial][F10 under the M1 Army Act 1955 and the M2 Air Force Act 1955, and proceedings in courts-martial and disciplinary courts under the M3 Naval Discipline Act 1957][F11 and in Standing Civilian Courts established under the M4 Armed Forces Act 1976], [F12 notwithstanding any enactment in force at the commencement of this Act,] . . . F13

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14

Textual Amendments

F9 Words inserted by Revision of the Army and Air Force Acts (Transitional Provisions) Act 1955 (c. 20), Sch. 2 para. 5

F10 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 49(3)

F11 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 9 para. 1

F12 Words from “notwithstanding” to the end repealed (E.W.) by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119, Sch. 7 Pt. V

F13 Words from “except that” onwards repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1981 (c. 19), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I

F14 S. 6(2) repealed by Revision of the Army and Air Force Acts (Transitional Provisions) Act 1955 (c. 20), Sch. 4

Marginal Citations

M1 1955 c. 18.

M2 1955 c. 19.

M3 1957 c. 53.

M4 1976 c. 52.

7 †Extent, commencement and short title. E+W+S

(1) This Act shall not extend to Ireland.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15

(3) This Act may be cited as the Criminal Evidence Act 1898.

Textual Amendments

F15 S. 7(2) repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (c. 49)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 Unreliable marginal note