Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

2015 CHAPTER 2

Commentary on Sections

Part 3 – Courts and Tribunals

Reporting restrictions

Section 79: Reporting restrictions in proceedings other than criminal proceedings

587. Section 79 amends section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. The effect of subsection (2)(a) is to limit the application of section 39 to any proceedings other than criminal proceedings. This re-states the effect of paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 which is repealed by subsection (11). Upon commencement of this provision the Government also intends to commence section 45 of, and relevant provisions in Schedule 2 to, the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 will apply in criminal proceedings other than those in the Youth Court and on appeal from the Youth Court.

588. Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is also amended to provide that a court may direct that particulars calculated to lead to the identification of a child or young person may not be included in a “publication”. Currently, section 39 applies only in respect of newspapers and sound and television broadcasts. Subsection (7) inserts a new subsection (3) into section 39 to provide a definition of a publication, which includes publication by on-line means. The definition is in substantially the same terms as that applicable to new section 45A of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, inserted by section 78 (see the definition in section 63 of that Act).

589. Subsection (9) inserts a new section 39A into the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to introduce new Schedule 1A to that Act, which deals with the position of persons providing information society services in respect of contravening a direction under section 39. New Schedule 1A is inserted by Schedule 15 (introduced by section 80).

590. Subsection (10) amends section 57(3) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963 to preserve the effect of section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 as regards Scotland. This subsection provides that references to “publication” in section 39 have effect in Scotland as if they were references to a newspaper. Note that section 57(4) of the 1963 Act continues to provide that section 39 of the 1933 Act also applies to sound and television broadcasts.

591. Subsection (12) ensures that subsection (2)(a) (limiting the application of section 39 to proceedings other than criminal proceedings) does not affect the operation of section 39 in relation to criminal proceedings instituted before the day on which subsection (2)(a) comes into force.

592. Subsection (13) defines when proceedings and proceedings on appeal are “instituted” by reference to the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 and the Criminal Appeal Act 1995.