Citation, interpretation and extent

1.—(1) This Order my be cited as the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2002.

(2) In this Order, the “Service Courts Order” means the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Application to Service Courts) (Evidence) Order 1996(2).

(3) This Order extends to England and Wales only.

Appointed day

2.  The following provisions of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 shall, in so far as they are not already in force, come into force on 24th July 2002:

(a)sections 16 to 27 and 30 (special measures directions in case of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses);

(b)sections 31 to 33 (supplementary provisions);

(c)sections 36 and 37 (prohibition imposed by court);

(d)section 47 (reports relating to directions under chapter I or II);

(e)sections 53 to 57 (competence of witness and capacity to be sworn);

(f)paragraphs 1, 10 and 12 to 14 of Schedule 4 and section 67(1) in so far as it relates to those paragraphs;

(g)in Schedule 6, the entries relating to—

(i)the Criminal Evidence Act 1898(3), section 1;

(ii)the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984(4), section 80 (1), (5) and (8);

(iii)the Criminal Justice Act 1988(5)—

(aa)section 32(1), (2), (3A) to (3E) and (6), except in so far as applied to proceedings before Service courts by the Service Courts Order;

(bb)section 32A, except in so far as applied to proceedings before Service courts by the Service Courts Order; and

(cc)section 33A;

(iv)the Criminal Justice Act 1991(6)

(aa)section 52;

(bb)section 54, except in so far as required for proceedings before Service courts; and

(cc)section 55(2)(b), (4) and (6) except in so far as required for proceedings before Service courts;

(v)the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994(7), section 50 and paragraph 33 of Schedule 9;

(vi)the Criminal Appeal Act 1995(8) paragraph 16(2)(b) and (3) of Schedule 2;

(vii)the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996(9), section 62 and paragraph 33 of Schedule 1;

and section 67(3) in so far as it relates to those entries;

(h)paragraphs 3 and 7 of Schedule 7 (transitional provisions and savings) and section 67(4) in so far as it relates to them.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force on 24th July 2002 provisions in the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 relating to Special Measures Directions (sections 16 to 27 and 30 to 33), including the giving of evidence by a live link or by means of a recording. It also commences provisions enabling courts to issue directions prohibiting an accused from cross-examining a witness in person (sections 36 to 37), provision imposing restrictions on the reporting of such directions (section 47) and provisions relating to the competence of witnesses in criminal proceedings to give evidence and the capacity of witnesses in such proceedings to be sworn. In addition a number of consequential repeals are commenced (Schedule 6) (with exceptions in so far as they apply to Service courts) and certain transitional provisions in Schedule 7.

This Order extends to England and Wales only.

Note as to Earlier Commencement Orders

(This note is not part of the Order)

The following provisions of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 have been brought into force by commencement orders before the date of this Order: