Section 23 Screening witness from accused.I1C1
A special measures direction may provide for the witness, while giving testimony or being sworn in court, to be prevented by means of a screen or other arrangement from seeing the accused.
But the screen or other arrangement must not prevent the witness from being able to see, and to be seen by—
the judge or justices (or both) and the jury (if there is one);
legal representatives acting in the proceedings; and
any interpreter or other person appointed (in pursuance of the direction or otherwise) to assist the witness.
Where two or more legal representatives are acting for a party to the proceedings, subsection (2)(b) is to be regarded as satisfied in relation to those representatives if the witness is able at all material times to see and be seen by at least one of them.
Annotations
Modifications
- C1
S. 23 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Application to Service Courts) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2083), arts. 1, 3, 4
Commencement
- I1
S. 23 wholly in force at 24.7.2002; Pt. II Chs. 1-4 (ss. 16-52) in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 68(4); s. 23 in force in so far as not already in force at 24.7.2002 by S.I. 2002/1739, art. 2(a)
Notes on Chapter I
Modifications
- C1
Pt. 2 Chs. 1-3 amended (1.9.2001) by 2001 c. 17, s. 57(2) (with ss. 56(2), 63(2), 78); S.I. 2001/2161, art. 2
- C2
Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) by 1998 c. 37, s. 1I(2)(3) (as inserted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 143, 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(s))
- C3
Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) (20.10.2014) by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), s. 31(1)-(3), 185(1) (with ss. 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93); S.I. 2014/2590, art. 3(a)
- C4
Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) (23.3.2015) by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), s. 16(1)-(3), 185(1) (with ss. 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93); S.I. 2015/373, art. 4(a)
- C5
Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) (26.5.2016) by Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (c. 2), s. 33(1)(2), 63(2); S.I. 2016/553, reg. 2
- C6
Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), ss. 340(1)(2), 416(1) (with ss. 2, 398(1), 406, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
- C7
Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) (27.11.2024 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 for E.W. in relation to specified areas, 5.3.2025 until the end of the specified period on 26.11.2025 in relation to the specified area, 11.3.2025 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 in relation to the specified areas, 28.4.2025 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 in relation to the specified areas) by Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c. 17), s. 49(1)-(3), 90(6); S.I. 2024/1191, regs. 1(2)(g), 2, 3(1) (with reg. 4); S.I. 2025/261, regs. 1(2)(f), 2, 3 (with reg. 4); S.I. 2025/319, regs. 1(2)(f), 2, 3 (with reg. 4); S.I. 2025/515, regs. 1(3)(e)(f), 2 (with reg. 3) (as amended (21.11.2025) by S.I. 2025/1222, regs. 1(2), 2, 3, 4 and (25.3.2026) by S.I. 2026/342, regs. 1(2), 2, 3, 4)
- C8
Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) (26.10.2026) by 2014 c. 2, s. L1(1)(2) (with s. L1(4) (as inserted by Crime and Policing Act 2026 (c. 20), ss. 1(2), 255(1); S.I. 2026/960, reg. 4(a))