The Criminal Procedure Rules 2010

Written statement in evidence

27.4.—(1) A party who wants to introduce in evidence a written statement must—

(a) before the hearing at which that party wants to do so, serve a copy of the statement on—

(i) the court officer, and

(ii) each other party; and

(b) at or before that hearing, serve the statement itself on the court officer.

(2) If that party relies on only part of the statement, that party must mark the copy in such a way as to make that clear.

(3) A prosecutor must serve on a defendant, with the copy of the statement, a notice—

(a) of the right within 7 days of service to object to the introduction of the statement in evidence instead of the witness giving evidence in person; and

(b) that if the defendant does not object in time, the court—

(i) can nonetheless require the witness to give evidence in person, but

(ii) may decide not to do so.

(4) The court may exercise its power to require the witness to give evidence in person—

(a) on application by any party; or

(b) on its own initiative.

(5) A party entitled to receive a copy of a statement may waive that entitlement by so informing—

(a) the party who would have served it; and

(b) the court.

[Note. The Practice Direction sets out a form of notice for use in connection with this rule.]