OpenLegislation

The Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1999

1999/2789 · Made 12 October 1999 · Extends to Northern Ireland

Not fully up to date. 7 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 28 September 2023.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
art. 29(3)(aa)insertedJustice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 Sch. 2 para. 11
art. 29(3)(aa)words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 11Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 4(9)(h)
art. 23(3)(cf)(cg)insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 71(3)(a)
art. 23(4)(a)words substitutedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 71(3)(b)
Pt. 2applied (with modifications)Crime and Policing Act 2026 Sch. 8 para. 12(1)
art. 21(5)(a)-(c)substituted for wordsCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 71(2)(b)
art. 5(5)(e)(f)insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 71(2)(a)

12th October 1999 C1C2

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Order: transfer of functions from Secretary of State to Department of Justice (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 4(1)(2), Sch. 1 (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)

C2

Order: transfer of functions from Lord Chancellor to Department of Justice (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 15(1), Sch. 17 para. 51 (with arts. 15(6), 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)

Contents

  1. Part I: INTRODUCTORY
  2. 1Title and commencement
  3. 2Interpretation
  4. 3Meaning of “sexual offence” and other references to offences
  5. 3AMeaning of offence involving domestic abuse” etc.
  6. Part II: SPECIAL MEASURES DIRECTIONS IN CASE OF VULNERABLE AND INTIMIDATED WITNESSES
  7. Preliminary
  8. 4Witnesses eligible for assistance on grounds of age or incapacity
  9. 5Witnesses eligible for assistance on grounds of fear or distress about testifying
  10. 6Special measures available to eligible witnesses
  11. Special measures directions
  12. 7Special measures direction relating to eligible witness
  13. 8Further provisions about directions: general
  14. 9Special provisions relating to child witnesses
  15. 10Extension of provisions of Article 9 to certain witnesses over 18
  16. 10ASpecial provisions relating to sexual offences
  17. Special measures
  18. 11Screening witness from accused
  19. 12Evidence by live link
  20. 13Evidence given in private
  21. 14Removal of wigs and gowns
  22. 15Video recorded evidence in chief
  23. 16Video recorded cross-examination or re-examination
  24. 17Examination of witness through intermediary
  25. 18Aids to communication
  26. Supplementary
  27. 19Status of evidence given under this Part
  28. 20Warning to jury
  29. 21Interpretation etc. of Part II
  30. Part 2A: USE OF LIVE LINK AND INTERMEDIARY FOR EVIDENCE OF CERTAIN ACCUSED PERSONS
  31. 21ALive link directions
  32. 21BMeaning and effect of live link.
  33. 21BAExamination of accused through intermediary
  34. 21BBFurther provision as to directions under Article 21BA(3)
  35. 21CSaving
  36. Part III: PROTECTION OF WITNESSES FROM CROSS-EXAMINATION BY ACCUSED IN PERSON
  37. General prohibitions
  38. 22Complainants in proceedings for sexual offences
  39. 22AComplainants in proceedings involving domestic abuse
  40. 22BComplainants in proceedings involving stalking
  41. 23Child complainants and other child witnesses
  42. Prohibition imposed by court
  43. 24Direction prohibiting accused from cross-examining particular witness
  44. 25Further provisions about directions under Article 24
  45. Cross-examination on behalf of accused
  46. 26Defence representation for purposes of cross-examination
  47. 27Warning to jury
  48. Part IV: PROTECTION OF COMPLAINANTS IN PROCEEDINGS FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES
  49. Serious sexual offences: exclusion of public from court
  50. 27AExclusion of public from trial
  51. 27BNomination etc of persons to be excepted from exclusion
  52. 27CVariation of exclusion directions given under Article 27A
  53. 27DExclusion directions under Article 27A: general
  54. 27EExclusion of public from appeal hearing
  55. 27FExclusion from appeal hearings: further provision
  56. Sexual offences: restriction on certain evidence and questions
  57. 28Restriction on evidence or questions about complainant's sexual history
  58. 29Interpretation and application of Article 28
  59. 30Procedure on applications under Article 28
  60. Part V: COMPETENCE OF WITNESSES AND CAPACITY TO BE SWORN
  61. Competence of witnesses
  62. 31Competence of witnesses to give evidence
  63. 32Determining competence of witnesses
  64. Giving of sworn or unsworn evidence
  65. 33Determining whether witness to be sworn
  66. 34Reception of unsworn evidence
  67. 35Penalty for giving false unsworn evidence
  68. Part VI: RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF EVIDENCE
  69. 36Inferences from silence not permissible where no prior access to legal advice
  70. 37Removal of restriction on use of evidence from computer records
  71. Part VII: FINAL PROVISIONS
  72. 38Orders
  73. 39General supplementary provisions
  74. 40Minor and consequential amendments, transitional provisions and repeals
  75. Schedule Schedule
  76. Schedule 2: TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND SAVINGS
  77. Part
  78. Interpretation
  79. 1Paragraph 1
  80. Special measures under Part II
  81. 2Paragraph 2
  82. Protection of witnesses from cross-examination by accused in person
  83. 3Paragraph 3
  84. Protection of complainants in proceedings for sexual offences
  85. 4Paragraph 4
  86. Competence of witnesses and capacity to be sworn
  87. 5Paragraph 5
  88. Inferences from silence
  89. 6Paragraph 6
  90. Schedule Schedule