PART 5

Protection for victims, witnesses, etc in legal proceedings

Special measures

Special measures in criminal proceedings for offences involving domestic abuse
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1
Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (giving of evidence or information for purposes of criminal proceedings: special measures directions in case of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses) is amended as follows.
2
In section 17 (witnesses eligible for assistance on grounds of fear or distress about testifying)—
a
in subsection (4), for “a sexual offence or an offence under section 1 or 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015” substitute “an offence listed in subsection (4A)”;
b
after subsection (4) insert—
4A
The offences are—
a
a sexual offence;
b
an offence under section 1 or 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015;
c
any other offence where it is alleged that the behaviour of the accused amounted to domestic abuse within the meaning of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (see section 1 of that Act).
3
In section 25(4)(a) (evidence given in private), for “a sexual offence or an offence under section 1 or 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015” substitute “an offence listed in section 17(4A)”.