{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/vulnerable-witnesses-scotland-act-2004/section-18",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/vulnerable-witnesses-scotland-act-2004/section-18.json",
  "legislation": "asp/2004/3",
  "legislation_title": "Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/vulnerable-witnesses-scotland-act-2004",
  "path": "section/18",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "18",
  "heading": "The special measures",
  "text": "(1) The special measures which may be authorised to be used by virtue of section 12 or 13 of this Act for the purpose of taking the evidence of a vulnerable witness are—\n(a) taking of evidence by a commissioner in accordance with section 19,\n(b) use of a live television link in accordance with section 20,\n(c) use of screen in accordance with section 21,\n(d) use of a supporter in accordance with section 22, and\n(e) such other measures as the Scottish Ministers may, by order made by statutory instrument, prescribe.\n(2) An order under subsection (1)(e) above is not to be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 18 in force at 30.11.2005 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2005/590, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 18 in force at 1.4.2006 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I3",
      "text": "S. 18(1)(a) in force at 1.11.2007 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2007/447, art. 3, Sch. (with art. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I4",
      "text": "S. 18(1)(b)-(e) (2) in force at 1.4.2005 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I5",
      "text": "S. 18(1)(b)-(e) (2) in force at 1.11.2007 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2007/447, art. 3, Sch. (with art. 4)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "word repealed",
      "affecting": "asp/2025/12",
      "affecting_title": "Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025"
    },
    {
      "type": "inserted",
      "affecting": "asp/2025/12",
      "affecting_title": "Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2004/3/section/18",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:16:39.169379+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}