Section 29 Examination of witness through intermediary.I1I2
England and Wales
A special measures direction may provide for any examination of the witness (however and wherever conducted) to be conducted through an interpreter or other person approved by the court for the purposes of this section (“an intermediary”).
The function of an intermediary is to communicate—
to the witness, questions put to the witness, and
to any person asking such questions, the answers given by the witness in reply to them,
and to explain such questions or answers so far as necessary to enable them to be understood by the witness or person in question.
Any examination of the witness in pursuance of subsection (1) must take place in the presence of such persons as F1Criminal Procedure Rules or the direction may provide, but in circumstances in which—
the judge or justices (or both) and legal representatives acting in the proceedings are able to see and hear the examination of the witness and to communicate with the intermediary, and
(except in the case of a video recorded examination) the jury (if there is one) are able to see and hear the examination of the witness.
Where two or more legal representatives are acting for a party to the proceedings, subsection (3)(a) is to be regarded as satisfied in relation to those representatives if at all material times it is satisfied in relation to at least one of them.
A person may not act as an intermediary in a particular case except after making a declaration, in such form as may be prescribed by F2Criminal Procedure Rules, that he will faithfully perform his function as intermediary.
Subsection (1) does not apply to an interview of the witness which is recorded by means of a video recording with a view to its admission as evidence in chief of the witness; but a special measures direction may provide for such a recording to be admitted under section 27 if the interview was conducted through an intermediary and—
that person complied with subsection (5) before the interview began, and
the court’s approval for the purposes of this section is given before the direction is given.
Section 1 of the M1Perjury Act 1911 (perjury) shall apply in relation to a person acting as an intermediary as it applies in relation to a person lawfully sworn as an interpreter in a judicial proceeding; and for this purpose, where a person acts as an intermediary in any proceeding which is not a judicial proceeding for the purposes of that section, that proceeding shall be taken to be part of the judicial proceeding in which the witness’s evidence is given.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Words in s. 29(3) substituted (1.9.2004) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 110(1), Sch. 8 para. 384(d); S.I. 2004/2066, art. 2(c)(xix) (with art. 3)
- F2
Words in s. 29(5) substituted (1.9.2004) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 110(1), Sch. 8 para. 384(d); S.I. 2004/2066, art. 2(c)(xix) (with art. 3)
Marginal citations
- M1
Modifications
- C1
S. 29(1)(2) 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. 29(3)(4) 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. 29(5)-(7) 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
Pt. 2 Chs. 1-4 (ss. 16-52) in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 68(4)
- I2
S. 29 in force at 23.2.2004 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2004/299, art. 2
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))