Section 27 Video recorded evidence in chief.I1
England and Wales
A special measures direction may provide for a video recording of an interview of the witness to be admitted as evidence in chief of the witness.
A special measures direction may, however, not provide for a video recording, or a part of such a recording, to be admitted under this section if the court is of the opinion, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, that in the interests of justice the recording, or that part of it, should not be so admitted.
In considering for the purposes of subsection (2) whether any part of a recording should not be admitted under this section, the court must consider whether any prejudice to the accused which might result from that part being so admitted is outweighed by the desirability of showing the whole, or substantially the whole, of the recorded interview.
Where a special measures direction provides for a recording to be admitted under this section, the court may nevertheless subsequently direct that it is not to be so admitted if—
it appears to the court that—
the witness will not be available for cross-examination (whether conducted in the ordinary way or in accordance with any such direction), and
the parties to the proceedings have not agreed that there is no need for the witness to be so available; or
any F1Criminal Procedure Rules requiring disclosure of the circumstances in which the recording was made have not been complied with to the satisfaction of the court.
Where a recording is admitted under this section—
the witness must be called by the party tendering it in evidence, unless—
a special measures direction provides for the witness’s evidence on cross-examination to be given F2in any recording admissible under section 28, or
the parties to the proceedings have agreed as mentioned in subsection (4)(a)(ii); and
the witness may not without the permission of the court give evidence in chief otherwise than by means of the recording as to any matter which, in the opinion of the court, is dealt with in the witness's recorded testimony.
Where in accordance with subsection (2) a special measures direction provides for part only of a recording to be admitted under this section, references in subsections (4) and (5) to the recording or to the witness’s recorded testimony are references to the part of the recording or testimony which is to be so admitted.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If the court directs under subsection (9) that evidence is to be given by live link, it may also make such provision in that direction as it could make under section 24(1A) in a special measures direction.
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Nothing in this section affects the admissibility of any video recording which would be admissible apart from this section.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Words in s. 27(4)(b) substituted (1.9.2004) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 110(1), Sch. 8 para. 384(b); S.I. 2004/2066, art. 2(c)(xix) (with art. 3)
- F2
Words in s. 27(5)(a)(i) substituted (27.6.2011) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(5), Sch. 21 para. 73 (with s. 180); S.I. 2011/1452, art. 2(g)
- F3
S. 27(5)(b) substituted (27.6.2011) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 103(2), 182(5) (with s. 180, Sch. 22 para. 23); S.I. 2011/1452, art. 2(a)
- F4
Words in s. 27(7) substituted (27.6.2011) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 103(3)(a), 182(5) (with s. 180, Sch. 22 para. 23); S.I. 2011/1452, art. 2(a)
- F5
Words in s. 27(7)(a) repealed (27.6.2011) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 103(3)(b), 182(5), Sch. 23 Pt. 3 (with s. 180, Sch. 22 para. 23); S.I. 2011/1452, art. 2(a)(i)
- F6
S. 27(8) repealed (27.6.2011) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 103(4), 182(5), Sch. 23 Pt. 3 (with s. 180, Sch. 22 para. 23); S.I. 2011/1452, art. 2(a)(i)
- F7
Words in s. 27(9) substituted (27.6.2011) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 103(5), 182(5) (with s. 180, Sch. 22 para. 23); S.I. 2011/1452, art. 2(a)
- F8
Words in s. 27(9) repealed (27.6.2011) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(5), Sch. 23 Pt. 3 (with s. 180); S.I. 2011/1452, art. 2(i)
- F9
S. 27(9A) inserted (27.6.2011) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 102(2), 182(5) (with s. 180, Sch. 22 para. 23); S.I. 2011/1452, art. 2(a)
- F10
S. 27(10) repealed (18.6.2012 for specified purposes, 5.11.2012 for specified purposes, 28.5.2013 for specified purposes) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 3 para. 73(2), Sch. 37 Pt. 4; S.I. 2012/1320, art. 4(1)(c)(d)(2)(3) (with art. 5) (see S.I. 2012/2574, art. 4(2) and S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2012/2574, art. 2(2)(3)(c)(d), Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (4.11.2012) by S.I. 2012/2761, art. 2) (with S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2013/1103, art. 2(1)(c)(d)(2)(3) (with arts. 3, 4)
Modifications
- C1
S. 27(1) 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
- C2
S. 27(2)-(9) 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
- C3
S. 27(11) 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. 27 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. 27 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))