Section 85H Prohibition of cross-examination in person: evidence of domestic abuseF1

In civil proceedings, where specified evidence is adduced that a person who is a witness has been the victim of domestic abuse carried out by a party to the proceedings, that party to the proceedings may not cross-examine the witness in person.

In civil proceedings, where specified evidence is adduced that a person who is a party to the proceedings has been the victim of domestic abuse carried out by a witness, that party may not cross-examine the witness in person.

In this section—

• “domestic abuse” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021;

• “specified evidence” means evidence specified, or of a description specified, in regulations made by the Lord Chancellor.

Regulations under subsection (3) may provide that any evidence which satisfies the court that domestic abuse, or domestic abuse of a specified description, has occurred is specified evidence for the purposes of this section.