What happens if your child has to give evidence in court? Specialmeasures have been in place since the passage of the Criminal JusticeAct 1991 and its associated Memorandum of Good Practice on VideoRecorded Interviews for Child Witnesses for Criminal Proceedings. Thelegislation was updated to include vulnerable adults in the second partof the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, but only now hasthe Government published three volumes of guidance to support the 1999Act.
Which special measures? Subject to the agreement of the court, screenscan be erected to shield the witness from the defendant, or the witnesscan give evidence via a live TV link. The court can exclude people orpress in cases involving sexual offences or possible witnessintimidation. Children may give evidence with help from an approvedintermediary.
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