The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Commencement No. 29) Order 2022

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

Section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (c. 23) (“the Act”) provides that where a video recorded interview of a witness has been admitted as their evidence-in-chief under section 27 of the Act, the court may also direct that any cross-examination and re-examination of the witness be video recorded and that recording admitted as evidence.

Article 2(3) of this Order makes provision for the coming into force of section 28 of the Act on 26th September 2022 for the purposes of proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Amersham, Aylesbury, Basildon, Cambridge, Canterbury, the Central Criminal Court, Chelmsford, Croydon, Guildford, Hove, the Inner London Sessions House, King’s Lynn, Lewes, Norwich, Peterborough, Reading, Snaresbrook, Southend, Southwark and Woolwich, where a witness is eligible for assistance by virtue of section 17(4) of the Act providing for special measures for witnesses or complainants in cases concerning sexual offences or modern slavery offences.

Article 2(4) of this Order makes provision for the coming into force of section 28 of the Act on 26th September 2022 for the purposes of proceedings before the youth court sitting at Leeds Magistrates’ Court, where a witness or complainant is eligible for special measures by virtue of section 16 of the Act being a witnesses or complainant eligible on the grounds of age or incapacity.

S.I. 2019/947 brought section 28 into force in relation to proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Kingston-upon-Thames, Leeds, and Liverpool, where the witness is eligible for special measures under section 17(4) of the Act.

S.I. 2021/1036 brought section 28 into force in relation to proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Durham, Harrow, Isleworth, and Wood Green, where the witness is eligible for special measures under section 17(4) of the Act.

S.I. 2022/456 brought section 28 into force in relation to proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Great Grimsby Combined Court, Bradford, Teesside, Kingston-upon-Hull Combined Court Centre, and York, where the witness is eligible for special measures under section 17(4) of the Act.

S.I. 2022/536 brought section 28 into force in relation to proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Sheffield, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Doncaster, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, Truro, Bristol, Plymouth, Isle of Wight, Gloucester, Bournemouth, Exeter, and Salisbury, where the witness is eligible for special measures under section 17(4) of the Act.

S.I. 2022/623 brought section 28 into force in relation to proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Worcester, Warwick, Nottingham, Lincoln, Leicester, Northampton, and Taunton, where the witness is eligible for special measures under section 17(4) of the Act.

S.I. 2022/713 brought section 28 into force in relation to proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Bolton, Burnley, Preston, Carlisle, Lancaster, Chester, Swindon, Warrington, and Manchester, where the witness is eligible for special measures under section 17(4) of the Act.

S.I. 2022/773 brought section 28 into force in relation to proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Caernarfon, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Mold, Newport, Preston, Swansea, Birmingham, Coventry, Derby and Wolverhampton where the witness is eligible for special measures under section 17(4) of the Act.

S.I. 2022/951 brought section 28 into force in relation to proceedings before the Crown Court sitting at Ipswich, Luton, Maidstone, Oxford and St Albans where the witness is eligible for special measures under section 17(4) of the Act.

This Order expands the availability of section 28 directions to proceedings before the Crown Court in 20 further locations, where the witness is eligible for assistance by virtue of section 17(4) of the Act and in one further location of the youth court sitting at Leeds Magistrates’ Court where the witness is eligible for assistance by virtue of section 16 of the Act.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.