Part 8E+WLive links

53[F1Further provision about live links in magistrates’ courts]E+W

(1)[F2Subsections (2) and (3) apply] where—

(a)a magistrates' court is minded to give a direction under section 51 [F3requiring or permitting a person to take part in proceedings before the court through a live audio link or a live video link], and

(b)suitable facilities for [F4such participation] are not available at any [F5place at] which the court can (apart from subsection (2)) lawfully sit.

(2)The court may sit for the purposes of the whole or any part of the proceedings at any place at which such facilities are available and which has been [F6authorised by a direction under section 30 of the Courts Act 2003].

[F7(3)If the place mentioned in subsection (2) is outside the local justice area in which the justices act it shall be deemed to be in that area for the purpose of the jurisdiction of the justices acting in that area.]

[F8(4)The following functions of a magistrates’ court may be discharged by a single justice—

(a)giving a direction under section 51 or varying such a direction under section 52(2);

(b)rescinding under section 52(2) a direction given under section 51 before the eligible criminal proceedings concerned begin;

(c)requiring or permitting, under section 52(8), a person to take part by live audio link or live video link in a hearing about a matter within paragraph (a) or (b).]

Textual Amendments