Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018

25 Evidence and contempt

(1) A court or commission exercising jurisdiction under this Measure has the same powers as the High Court in relation to—

(a) the attendance and examination of witnesses, and

(b) the production and inspection of documents.

(2) Subsection (3) applies if a person does or omits to do something in connection with proceedings before, or in connection with an order made by, a court or commission exercising jurisdiction under this Measure—

(a) which is in contempt of that court or commission by virtue of an enactment, or

(b) which would be in contempt of that court or commission if it had power to commit for contempt.

(3) The judge or presiding judge of the court or the presiding member of the commission may send to the High Court a certificate under his or her hand stating the act or omission.

(4) The High Court may—

(a) on receiving a certificate under subsection (3), inquire into the alleged act or omission, and

(b) after hearing any witness for or against the person subject to the allegation and any statement in defence, exercise the same jurisdiction and powers as if the person were guilty of contempt of the High Court.

(5) In subsection (2), “order” includes—

(a) a special citation under section 70,

(b) an injunction under section 71,

(c) a special citation under section 20(1) of the Care of Cathedrals Measure 2011, and

(d) an injunction under section 20(3) of that Measure.