Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011

173 Cases involving sexual behaviour: evidence

(1) This section applies where—

(a) an application is made to the sheriff—

(i) to determine whether a section 67 ground is established, or

(ii) to review a grounds determination, and

(b) the ground involves sexual behaviour engaged in by any person.

(2) In hearing the application the sheriff must not, unless the sheriff makes an order under section 175, admit evidence, or allow questioning of a witness designed to elicit evidence, which shows or tends to show one or more of the circumstances mentioned in subsection (3) in relation to a person mentioned in subsection (4).

(3) The circumstances are that the person—

(a) is not of good character (whether in relation to sexual matters or otherwise),

(b) has, at any time, engaged in sexual behaviour not forming part of the subject-matter of the ground,

(c) has, at any time (other than shortly before, at the same time as or shortly after the acts which form part of the subject-matter of the ground), engaged in behaviour (not being sexual behaviour) that might found an inference that the person is not credible or the person’s evidence is not reliable,

(d) has, at any time, been subject to any condition or predisposition that might found the inference that the person is not credible or the person’s evidence is not reliable.

(4) The persons are—

(a) the child,

(b) a person giving evidence for the purposes of the hearing,

(c) any other person evidence of whose statements is given for the purposes of the hearing.

(5) In subsection (4)(c), “statements” includes any representations, however made or expressed, of fact or opinion.

(6) In this section and section 174, references to sexual behaviour engaged in include references to having undergone or been made subject to any experience of a sexual nature.