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The Armed Forces (Service Civilian Court) Rules 2009

Type Statutory-Instrument

Publication 2009-05-07

Last updated 2023-11-13

State In force

Department King's Printer of Acts of Parliament

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(b) is signed by a person who purports to have despatched, left or transmitted the document,

for the purposes of rule 13 the document shall be assumed to have been despatched, left or transmitted on that day, unless the contrary is shown.

(3) This rule is subject to any provision requiring proof on oath.

15

(1) The court administration officer must exercise his functions subject to any direction given by a judge advocate.

(2) The court administration officer may delegate any of his functions to a member of the Military Court Service.

16

(1) Subject to the provisions of this rule, proceedings shall commence at such time and place as may be appointed by the court administration officer.

(2) Where an offender has been convicted in trial proceedings, the sentencing proceedings in respect of him shall commence immediately after the conclusion of the trial proceedings, unless the judge advocate for those proceedings appoints some later time.

(3) After the commencement of any proceedings, the court shall sit at such times and for such periods each day as it may direct.

17

The court administration officer must serve notice of any time and place appointed by him for the commencement or resumption of any proceedings on—

(a) each person to whom the proceedings relate;

(b) the legal representative (if any) of each such person;

(d) the Director;

(e) where the proceedings are for the hearing of an application, the applicant; and

(f) any such other person as the Judge Advocate General may direct.

18

(1) Any person may (and, if in service custody, must) attend any proceedings by live link, if a judge advocate so directs.

(2) A person who attends any proceedings by live link, and could give oral evidence in the proceedings if he were in the place where the proceedings are being held, may give evidence by live link.

(3) In these Rules—

(a) “live link” means an arrangement by which a person, when not in the place where proceedings are being held, is able to see and hear, and to be seen and heard by, the court during proceedings (and for this purpose any impairment of eyesight or hearing is to be disregarded); and

(b) references to bringing a person before the court include bringing him to a place from which he can attend proceedings by live link.

(4) A direction under this rule may be given by—

(a) the judge advocate for the proceedings; or

(b) the judge advocate for any preliminary proceedings as respects which the proceedings are related proceedings.

(5) Rule 36(3) (effect of a direction given in preliminary proceedings) applies to a direction under this rule given in preliminary proceedings.

(6) Where a direction is given under this rule in relation to a witness, the witness may not give evidence otherwise than by live link without the leave of the judge advocate.

(7) A judge advocate may give a direction under this rule, or give permission for the purposes of paragraph (6)—

(a) on an application by a party to the proceedings; or

(b) of his own motion.

19

(1) Proceedings may be held in the absence of any person to whom they relate, if the court so directs.

(2) This rule does not permit a defendant to be arraigned in his absence.

(3) The court may not impose a driving disqualification order in the absence of an offender, unless the court is satisfied that the offender was informed prior to the hearing that the court was considering disqualification.

20

(1) This rule applies where under these Rules an oath is required to be administered to a person.

(2) Sections 1 and 3 to 6of the Oaths Act 1978 shall apply, as modified by paragraph (3), as they would apply if the person were required to take an oath in England and Wales.

(3) Where section 1 or 6 of that Act applies by virtue of this rule, the reference in that section to the words of the oath prescribed by law is to be read as a reference to the words prescribed by Schedule 1 for a person of the class to which the person belongs.

21

(1) Where a person to whom any proceedings relate is due to attend a hearing, the court administration officer, unless satisfied that the person does not need interpretation, shall appoint an interpreter to act at the hearing.

(2) Before an interpreter begins to act at a hearing, an oath shall be administered to the interpreter.

(3) Before an interpreter is sworn, the interpreter’s name shall be read out, and any party to the proceedings may object to the interpreter on any reasonable ground.

(4) If the judge advocate upholds any such objection, the interpreter shall not be sworn, and the court administration officer shall appoint another interpreter.

(5) On application or on his own initiative, the judge advocate may require a written translation of any document or part of a document to be provided for a person to whom any proceedings relate, and who needs interpretation, unless―

(a) translation of that document, or part, is not needed to explain the issues arising in the proceedings in relation to the person (including, in the case of trial proceedings, the case against the defendant); or

(b) the person agrees to do without, and the judge advocate is satisfied—

(i) that the agreement is clear and voluntary; and

(ii) that the person has had legal advice or otherwise understands the consequences.

(6) On application by a person to whom any proceedings relate, the judge advocate shall give any direction which he thinks appropriate, including a direction for interpretation by a different interpreter, where―

(a) no interpreter is appointed, or no interpretation provided;

(b) no translation is ordered, or provided, in response to a previous application by the person; or

(7) In relation to a person who has a hearing or speech impediment, references in these Rules to an interpreter include a person appointed—

(a) to communicate to the person anything said at the hearing, and explain it so far as necessary to enable the person to understand it, or

(b) to communicate any answers given by the person, and any other matters that the person seeks to convey, and explain them so far as necessary to enable the court and others present at the hearing to understand them,

and references to interpretation shall be construed accordingly.

(8) In its application by virtue of paragraph (7), nothing in this rule is limited by anything in Chapter 6 of Part 12 (special measures directions).

(9) In this rule references to acting at a hearing include assisting the person to communicate with the person’s legal representative during the hearing; and in relation to such assistance paragraph (7)(b) has effect as if the reference to the court and others present at the hearing were to the legal representative.

22

(1) A record must be made of any proceedings.

(2) The record of proceedings must include—

(a) a record of the court's decision under section 279(1) (trial by the Court Martial);

(b) a record of the defendant's decision after being given the opportunity to elect Court Martial trial;

(d) a record of any finding;

(e) a record of any sentence passed, order made or direction given by the court;

(f) a record of any order made, and any direction or ruling given, by the court;

(g) a sound recording of the proceedings, and any transcript of it (signed by the transcriber);

(h) a record of the identity of any interpreter;

(i) a record of any decision on an application under rule 21(5);

(j) a record of any agreement under rule 21(5)(b) to do without a written translation of a document or part of a document; ...

(k) a record of any direction given under rule 21(6) ; and

(l) a record of any decision on an application under rule 21A(6).

(3) The court administration officer shall send a copy of the record of any preliminary proceedings to—

(a) the Judge Advocate General;

(b) the Director; and

(4) Where a direction under rule 34 (preliminary proceedings in chambers) was given in relation to the proceedings, paragraph (3) shall have effect as if sub-paragraph (c) were omitted; and, where such a direction was given in relation to part of the proceedings, paragraph (3)(c) shall have effect in relation only to the record of the remainder.

(5) The record of proceedings shall be kept in the custody of the Judge Advocate General, together with any exhibits retained under rule 23 and any file of correspondence or other papers maintained by the court administration officer in connection with the proceedings, for at least six years from—

(a) in the case of trial proceedings in which a defendant is convicted, the conclusion of the sentencing proceedings in relation to him;

(b) in the case of preliminary proceedings where related trial proceedings take place but no defendant is convicted, the conclusion of the trial proceedings;

(6) A copy of the record of proceedings, or any part of it, shall be supplied on request—

(a) to any party to the proceedings, without charge, and

(b) to any other person, on payment of such charge as may be fixed by the Judge Advocate General,

but this is subject to paragraphs (7) and (8).

(7) Paragraph (6) does not require the supply of—

(a) a copy of the record of any proceedings held in camera, or in relation to which a direction under rule 34 (preliminary proceedings in chambers) was given;

(b) a copy of any part of a record of proceedings which relates to a part of the proceedings which was held in camera, or in relation to which such a direction was given.

(8) If, following a request for the supply of a copy of the record of proceedings or any part of it, the Secretary of State certifies that it is requisite for reasons of security that the record or part requested (or any part of it) should not be disclosed, paragraph (6) does not require the supply of the record or part requested (or the part of it to which the certificate relates).

23

(1) Any exhibit admitted in evidence must be marked sequentially with either a number or a letter.

(2) Each exhibit, or a label attached to it, must be signed by or on behalf of the court.

(3) Each exhibit must be retained with the record of proceedings, unless the court otherwise directs.

24

(1) The court may terminate any proceedings if it considers it in the interests of justice to do so.

(2) The Judge Advocate General shall terminate proceedings if the judge advocate dies or is otherwise unable to continue to attend the proceedings.

(3) The termination of trial proceedings under this rule shall not bar further trial proceedings in relation to the same charge or charges.

(4) The termination of sentencing proceedings under this rule or rule 46(4) (change of plea) shall not bar further sentencing proceedings in relation to the same offence or offences.

(5) The termination of activation proceedings under this rule shall not bar further activation proceedings held by virtue of the same conviction.

25

Subject to any other enactment (including any other provision of these Rules), the judge advocate shall ensure that proceedings are conducted—

(a) in such a way as appears to him most closely to resemble the way in which comparable proceedings in magistrates' courts in England and Wales would be conducted in comparable circumstances; and

(b) if he is unable to determine how comparable proceedings in magistrates' courts in England and Wales would be conducted in comparable circumstances, in such a way as appears to him to be in the interests of justice.

26

(1) A party to proceedings may appoint a legal representative to act for him in relation to the proceedings.

(2) A person may not be appointed as a legal representative unless—

(a) he has a general qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 ;

(b) he is an advocate or a solicitor in Scotland;

(d) he is a person having in any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a Commonwealth country or a British overseas territory rights and duties similar to those of a barrister or solicitor in England and Wales, and subject to punishment or disability for breach of professional rules.

(3) Any right conferred on a party to proceedings by these Rules may be exercised, and any duty imposed on him by these Rules (except pleading to a charge) discharged, by his legal representative on his behalf.

(4) A party who appoints a legal representative shall notify the court administration officer of the legal representative's name and address.

27

(1) This rule applies where a person to whom proceedings relate (“the young person”) is under the age of 18 years at the commencement of the proceedings.

(2) Where a party to the proceedings or the court administration officer is required to serve any document on the young person under these Rules, he must also serve it on the young person's parent or guardian.

(3) Where the young person has not appointed a legal representative—

(a) any right conferred on a party to proceedings by these Rules may be exercised, and any duty imposed on him by these Rules (except pleading to a charge) discharged, by his parent or guardian on his behalf; and

(b) the court may give leave for his parent or guardian to represent him in any proceedings.

28

Where—

(a) a charge is allocated for Service Civilian Court trial, and

(b) the defendant has not been arraigned before the court,

section 111 shall apply as if the defendant had been so arraigned and proceedings before the court had not concluded.

29

(1) Where a judge advocate has power to direct the arrest of a defendant under section 111 (including that section as applied by rule 28), he also has power to issue a warrant for the defendant's arrest.

(2) A warrant issued under this rule—

(a) must be addressed to one or more officers of a civilian police force;

(b) must state the offence with which the defendant is charged; and

(3) Where a defendant is arrested under a warrant issued under this rule and is transferred to service custody, subsection (4) of section 111 shall apply as if he had been arrested under that section.

30

(1) Where a charge is allocated for Service Civilian Court trial, the Director must, as soon as is practicable—

(a) serve advance information in relation to all defendants on the court administration officer; and

(b) serve advance information in relation to each defendant on—

(i) that defendant; and

(ii) that defendant's legal representative (if any).

(2) “Advance information”, in relation to any defendant, means—

(a) copies of the statements of those witnesses on whom the Director intends to rely against the defendant;

(b) a list of all exhibits which the Director intends to adduce in evidence against the defendant, and a statement of where any non-documentary exhibits are held; and

(3) Where, after the Director has served advance information on a defendant, he intends to adduce against the defendant any evidence not included in the advance information, he must as soon as is practicable serve on the defendant and the court administration officer such documents as he would have been required to include in the advance information if he had had that intention at the time when he served advance information.

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies in the course of trial proceedings, the reference in that paragraph to the court administration officer is to be read as a reference to the court.

(5) Where the Director no longer intends to call a witness whose statement he has served under this rule, he must as soon as is practicable give notice of that fact to every defendant.

31

(1) Where a charge is such that, if a defendant to the charge were convicted of it by the court, the court would have power to make an activation order, the advance information in relation to the defendant must include a notice that the court would have that power if he were convicted.

(2) Where a defendant—

(a) has been conditionally discharged by virtue of Schedule 3 to the Act, and

(b) is charged with an offence committed during the period of conditional discharge,

the advance information in relation to him must include a notice that, if he were convicted of the offence, the court would have power to deal with him under section 186(3) for the offence for which he was conditionally discharged.

(3) Where an overseas community order is in force in respect of a defendant, the advance information in relation to him must include a notice that, if he were convicted of the offence while the overseas community order is in force, the court would have the powers conferred by paragraph 23(2) of Schedule 10 to the Sentencing Code.

32

On receipt of the advance information in relation to a charge, the court administration officer must—

(a) forward it to the Judge Advocate General and request him to specify a judge advocate for preliminary proceedings in relation to the charge; and

(b) appoint a time and place for the commencement of the preliminary proceedings.

33

(1) The court administration officer must appoint a time and place for further preliminary proceedings if so directed by—

(a) the judge advocate for any preliminary proceedings; or

(b) the Judge Advocate General.

(2) The judge advocate for any preliminary proceedings may give a direction under this rule—

(a) on the oral application of the Director or a defendant; or

(b) of his own motion.

(3) The Judge Advocate General may give a direction under this rule on the written application of the Director or a defendant.

(4) A written application for a direction under this rule—

(a) must be made to the court administration officer;

(b) must specify the reason for which further preliminary proceedings are required;

(d) subject to rule 34 (preliminary proceedings in chambers without notice), must be served on every other party to the proposed trial proceedings.

34

(1) On application by the Director, the judge advocate for any preliminary proceedings may direct that the proceedings are, or that any part of the proceedings is—

(a) where there is one defendant, to be held in his absence and without notice to him;

(b) where there are two or more defendants, to be held in the absence of both or all of them and without notice to any of them.

(2) The court may not make a decision required by section 279(1) (consideration of trial by Court Martial) at a preliminary proceeding where a judge advocate has made a direction under this rule.

35

A judge advocate may direct the Director to serve on each defendant and the court administration officer, before any preliminary proceedings, an outline of the prosecution case.

36

(1) In preliminary proceedings the court may give such directions as appear to it to be necessary to secure the proper and efficient management of the case.

(2) Without prejudice to paragraph (1), the court may make an order or ruling on—

(a) whether the court or the Court Martial should try the case;

(b) any question as to the admissibility of evidence;

(d) any other question of law, practice or procedure relating to the case.

(3) Any direction given in preliminary proceedings shall have effect throughout any related proceedings unless varied or discharged by—

(a) the judge advocate who gave it; or

(b) the judge advocate for any related proceedings.

(4) Any order or ruling made in preliminary proceedings shall have effect throughout any related proceedings unless varied or discharged by the court.

37

(1) The court may try two or more charges together, if they are included in the same charge sheet.

(2) Where in accordance with regulations made under section 128 the charges in two or more charge sheets could have been included in the same charge sheet, the Director may consolidate both or all the charge sheets into one.

(3) Where the Director consolidates two or more charge sheets into one, he must immediately serve the new charge sheet on the court administration officer and each defendant.

38

Where a defendant is charged with more than one offence in the same charge sheet, the court may direct, before the commencement of trial proceedings in relation to the charge sheet, that the charges be divided between two or more charge sheets.

39

Where two or more defendants are charged in a single charge, the court may direct, before the commencement of trial proceedings in relation to the charge, that the charge be replaced with charges against the defendants separately and in separate charge sheets.

40

(1) Where in preliminary proceedings (whether before or after arraignment) or trial proceedings it appears to the court that the charge sheet or any charge is defective, it shall make such order for the amendment of the charge sheet or charge (as the case may be) as appears necessary to meet the circumstances of the case.

(2) But the court may not make an order under this rule if, in all the circumstances, the required amendments cannot be made without injustice.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (2), in relation to a proposed amendment in preliminary proceedings the circumstances relevant for the purposes of that paragraph include (in particular) whether the defendant has been arraingned.

(4) Where an order is made under this rule, the Director shall serve the amended charge sheet on every defendant in the way that would be required by regulations made under section 128—

(a) if the amendment had been made otherwise than in accordance with an order made under this rule; and

(b) where the amendment is made after arraignment, if it had been made before arraingnment.

41

(1) Where in preliminary proceedings the court is of opinion that, in consequence of the exercise of any power of the court under this Part, it is in the interests of justice—

(a) that the commencement of the trial proceedings be postponed, or

(b) that a defendant be arraigned or re-arraigned on any charge,

the court shall make such order or give such direction as appears necessary.

(2) Where in trial proceedings the court is of the opinion that in consequence of the exercise of any power of the court under this Part it is in the interests of justice—

(a) that the proceedings be adjourned, or

(b) that a defendant be arraigned or re-arraigned on any charge,

it shall make such order or give such direction as appears necessary.

42

(1) The court shall make its decision in accordance with section 279 before the defendant is arraigned and shall give its reasons for its decision in open court.

(2) If the court decides that it should try the charge, the defendant shall be asked if he wants to elect trial by the Court Martial.

(3) If the defendant (or if more than one person is jointly charged, any of the defendants) does not elect trial by the Court Martial, the court may arraign the defendant.

(4) At any time before arraignment, a defendant may give notice that he elects to be tried by the Court Martial.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4), if there is more than one charge or more than one charge sheet “arraignment” shall mean arraignment on all of the charges.

(6) A defendant who has indicated that he wishes to elect trial by the Court Martial may, at any time before arraignment by the Court Martial, give notice that he withdraws his election.

(7) Any notice under paragraphs (4) or (6), unless given in court during proceedings in relation to the matter, shall be in writing and shall be served on—

(a) the court administration officer;

(b) the Director;

(8) Nothing in this rule shall affect the provisions in section 280(3) or (5) (election in respect of one defendant or one charge, as the case may be, takes effect in respect of all of the defendants or all of the charges).

43

(1) A defendant shall be arraigned in preliminary proceedings on each charge brought against him, but need not be arraigned on every charge at the same time.

(2) A defendant shall be required to plead separately to each charge on which he is arraigned.

(3) Where a defendant pleads guilty to a charge, the court may accept the plea if satisfied that the defendant understands—

(a) the nature of the charge;

(b) the general effect of the plea; and

(4) Where the court accepts a plea of a guilty to a charge—

(a) the defendant shall stand convicted of the charge; and

(b) unless there is a further charge against him to which he has not pleaded guilty (or as respects which a plea of guilty has not been accepted by the court), the court administration officer shall appoint a time and place for sentencing proceedings.

(5) Where—

(a) a plea of guilty is not accepted by the court, or

(b) the defendant does not plead (or does not plead intelligibly) to the charge,

the court shall record a plea of not guilty.

44

Where the court accepts a plea of guilty to any charge, it may (with the Director's consent) order that any other charge—

(a) to which the defendant has not pleaded,

(b) to which the defendant has pleaded not guilty, or

is to lie on the file, not to be proceeded with without the leave of the court or the Court Martial.

45

(1) Where—

(a) a defendant has pleaded not guilty to a charge, or the court has recorded a plea of not guilty to the charge under rule 43(5), and

(b) the Director indicates that he intends to offer no evidence on the charge,

the court shall record a finding of not guilty in respect of the charge.

(2) A finding of not guilty recorded under this rule shall have effect for all purposes as an acquittal by the court.

46

(1) At any time before the court determines the finding, a defendant who has pleaded not guilty to the charge may withdraw his plea and substitute a plea of guilty.

(2) But the court may not accept a plea of guilty substituted under paragraph (1) unless satisfied that the defendant understands the matters mentioned in rule 43(3).

(3) At any time before the court passes sentence for an offence, a defendant who has pleaded guilty to the charge of the offence may, with the leave of the court, withdraw his plea and substitute a plea of not guilty.

(4) Where a defendant changes his plea under paragraph (3)—

(a) in the course of sentencing proceedings in relation to the offence, or

(b) in the course of trial proceedings in relation to another charge,

the court shall terminate the proceedings.

47

(1) After a defendant has been arraigned on a charge, the Director may not exercise any of the powers under section 126(2) without the leave of the court.

(2) Where a defendant has been arraigned and the Director (with leave) exercises any of the powers under section 126(2)(a) to (c) in relation to him, the Director shall serve the amended charge sheet on every defendant in the way that would be required by regulations made under section 128 if the power had been exercised before arraignment.

48

(1) Where any person is required to give evidence in any proceedings, the person must be notified of the time and place at which they are required to attend by—

(a) the Director, if the person is required to give evidence by the Director; or

(b) the court administration officer.

(2) When the court administration officer gives notice of any proceedings to a party to the proceedings other than the Director, he shall offer to notify any person whom the party may require to give evidence.

(3) Where a witness summons is issued under rule 49 or 51, the court administration officer shall serve it on the person to whom it is directed.

(4) Where the Director is required to notify a person under this rule and in the opinion of the Director it is not reasonably practicable to do so, the Director must give notice of that fact to the judge advocate.

(5) Where the court administration officer is required to notify a person under this rule or serve a witness summons on a person and in the opinion of the court administration officer it is not reasonably practicable to do so, the court administration officer must give notice of that fact to the judge advocate and the party who wishes the person to attend.

49

(1) This rule applies where a judge advocate is satisfied that—

(a) a person is likely to be able to give evidence likely to be material evidence, or produce any document or thing likely to be material evidence, for the purpose of any proceedings before the court; and

(b) it is in the interests of justice to issue a witness summons under this rule to secure the attendance of that person to give evidence or to produce the document or thing.

(2) In such a case, the judge advocate shall, subject to the following provisions of this rule, issue a witness summons directed to the person concerned and requiring him to—

(a) attend before the court at the time and place stated in the witness summons; and

(b) give the evidence or produce the document or thing.

(3) A witness summons may be issued under this rule only on an application; and the judge advocate may refuse to issue the witness summons if any requirement relating to the application is not fulfilled.

(4) An application for a witness summons must be made as soon as practicable after the applicant becomes aware of the grounds for making it.

(5) The application must—

(a) identify the proposed witness;

(b) explain—

(i) what evidence the proposed witness can give or produce;

(ii) why it is likely to be material evidence; and

(iii) why it would be in the interests of justice to issue a witness summons.

(6) The application may be made orally unless the judge advocate otherwise directs.

(7) An application in writing must contain a declaration that the facts stated in it are true to the best of the applicant's knowledge and belief.

(8) An application in writing must be served on the court administration officer and as directed by the judge advocate.

(9) A witness summons issued under this rule which requires a person to attend before the court and produce a document or thing may also require him to produce the document or thing—

(a) at a place stated in the witness summons, and

(b) at a time so stated, before the time at which the summons requires him to attend before the court,

for inspection by the applicant.

(10) A witness summons issued under this rule must state that failure to comply with the summons may result in the issue of a warrant for the arrest of the person to whom the summons is addressed.

50

(1) This rule applies where a person served with an application for a witness summons requiring the proposed witness to produce in evidence a document or thing objects to its production on the grounds that—

(a) it is not likely to be material evidence; or

(b) even if it is likely to be material evidence, the duties or rights (including rights of confidentiality) of the proposed witness or of any person to whom the document or thing relates outweigh the reasons for issuing a witness summons.

(2) A judge advocate may require the proposed witness to make the document or thing available for the objection to be assessed.

(3) The judge advocate may invite—

(a) the proposed witness or any representative of the proposed witness, or

(b) a person to whom the document or thing relates or any representative of such a person,

to help the judge advocate assess the objection.

51

(1) For the purpose of any proceedings, a judge advocate may of his own motion issue a witness summons directed to a person and requiring him to—

(a) attend before the court at the time and place stated in the witness summons; and

(b) give evidence, or produce any document or thing specified in the witness summons.

(2) A witness summons issued under this rule must state that failure to comply with the summons may result in the issue of a warrant for the arrest of the person to whom the summons is addressed.

(3) A judge advocate may withdraw a witness summons issued under this rule if he no longer considers it necessary or if one of the following applies for it to be withdrawn—

(a) the witness, on the grounds that—

(i) he cannot give or produce evidence likely to be material evidence; or

(ii) even if he can, his duties or rights (including rights of confidentiality) or those of any person to whom the evidence relates outweigh the reasons for the issue of the witness summons; or

(b) any person to whom the proposed evidence relates, on the grounds that—

(i) that evidence is not likely to be material evidence; or

(ii) even if it is, his duties or rights (including rights of confidentiality) or those of the witness outweigh the reasons for the issue of the witness summons.

52

(1) A judge advocate may withdraw a witness summons if an application is made under this rule.

(2) An application under this rule may be made by the party who applied for the witness summons, on the ground that it is no longer needed.

(3) An application under this rule may also be made by the witness, on the grounds that—

(a) he was not aware of any application for it; and

(b) either—

(i) he cannot give or produce evidence likely to be material evidence; or

(ii) even if he can, his duties or rights (including rights of confidentiality) or those of any person to whom the evidence relates outweigh the reasons for the issue of the witness summons.

(4) An application under this rule may also be made by any person to whom the proposed evidence relates, on the grounds that—

(a) he was not aware of any application for it; and

(b) either—

(i) that evidence is not likely to be material evidence; or

(ii) even if it is, his duties or rights (including rights of confidentiality) or those of the witness outweigh the reasons for the issue of the witness summons.

(5) An application under this rule—

(a) must be made in writing to the court administration officer;

(b) must be made as soon as is practicable after the applicant becomes aware of the grounds for making it; and

(6) An application under this rule must be served on—

(a) the witness (where he is not the applicant);

(b) the party who applied for the witness summons (where he is not the applicant); and

(7) Where—

(a) a witness summons requires the proposed witness to produce in evidence a document or other thing, and

(b) a person other than the party who applied for the witness summons makes an application under this rule,

rule 50(2) and (3) apply, with references to “the objection” read as references to the matters mentioned in paragraph (3)(b) or (4)(b) (as the case may be).

53

(1) Where a rule or direction requires an application under this Part to be in writing, the application may be made orally with the leave of the court.

(2) A party who seeks leave to make such an application orally must—

(a) give as much notice as the urgency of his application permits to those on whom he would otherwise have served an application in writing; and

(b) in doing so, explain the reasons for—

(i) the application; and

(ii) seeking leave to make the application orally.

54

(1) If a judge advocate is satisfied by evidence on oath that—

(a) a person is likely to be able to give material evidence or produce any document or other thing likely to be material evidence in the proceedings,

(b) that it is in the interests of justice that the person should attend to give evidence or to produce the document or thing, and

the judge advocate may, instead of issuing a witness summons, issue a warrant to arrest that person and bring him before the court.

(2) Where—

(a) any person has failed to attend before the court in answer to a witness summons issued under rule 49 or 51,

(b) the judge advocate is satisfied by evidence on oath that—

(i) the person is likely to be able to give evidence likely to be material evidence or produce any document or other thing likely to be material evidence in the proceedings, and

(ii) the person has been duly served with the witness summons and that a reasonable sum has been paid or tendered to him for costs and expenses, and

the judge advocate may issue a warrant to arrest the person and bring him before the court.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), a warrant issued under this rule shall be addressed to—

(a) one or more service policemen; or

(b) one or more officers of a civilian police force.

(4) A warrant issued under this rule may not be addressed to a service policeman unless it appears to the judge advocate that the person for whose arrest it is issued is subject to service law or is a civilian subject to service discipline.

(5) Where a person has been arrested by an officer of a civilian police force under a warrant issued under this rule—

(a) he must be transferred to service custody as soon as is practicable; and

(b) if he is not transferred to service custody as soon as is practicable after arrest he must be released.

(6) Where a person has been arrested under a warrant issued under this rule and is in service custody—

(a) he must as soon as is practicable be brought before a judge advocate for a review of whether he should continue to be kept in service custody until he can be brought before the court; and

(b) if he has not been brought before a judge advocate for such a review within 48 hours of the arrest he must be released.

55

(1) Paragraphs (2) to (5) apply where—

(a) a person is brought before a judge advocate under rule 54(6); or

(b) the keeping of a person in service custody has been authorised by an order under paragraph (2) and he is brought before a judge advocate before the expiry of the period for which it was so authorised.

(2) The judge advocate may by order authorise the keeping (or further keeping) of the person in service custody if he is satisfied that there are substantial grounds for believing that, if released from service custody, the person would fail to attend the court as required.

(3) The period for which the judge advocate may, by an order under paragraph (2), authorise the keeping of the person in service custody is such period, ending not later than 8 days after the day on which the order is made, as he considers appropriate in all the circumstances.

(4) If the judge advocate makes no order under paragraph (2), the person must be released from service custody without delay; but this is subject to paragraph (5).

(5) The judge advocate may require the person to comply, before release or later, with such requirements as appear necessary to secure his attendance before the court.

(6) Where the keeping of the person in service custody is authorised by an order under paragraph (2), he must be released on the expiry of the period for which it was so authorised unless a judge advocate has made a further order under that paragraph.

(7) On an application made by or on behalf of the person, any requirement imposed by virtue of paragraph (5) may be varied or discharged by a judge advocate.

(8) Section 107(5) shall apply in relation to a requirement imposed by virtue of paragraph (5) as it applies in relation to a requirement imposed by virtue of section 107(3)(a).

(9) A person guilty of an offence under section 107(5) by virtue of paragraph (8) shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

56

(1) Where any person is—

(a) notified under rule 48 of the requirement to give evidence in any proceedings, or

(b) served with a witness summons issued under rule 49 or 51,

there shall be paid or tendered to him at that time any expenses in respect of his attendance.

(2) For the purpose of this rule—

(a) the tender of a warrant or voucher entitling a person to travel free of charge shall constitute tender of his expenses in respect of any travelling required; and

(b) the tender of a written undertaking by the court administration officer to defray any other expenses payable under these Rules shall constitute tender in respect of those expenses.

57

(1) The provisions of this Part apply in relation to any proceedings in which an issue of fact falls to be determined, unless otherwise stated.

(2) In relation to any proceedings other than trial proceedings, references in this Part to a defendant are to be read as references to a person to whom the proceedings relate.

58

(1) The rules of evidence applicable in a trial on indictment in England and Wales shall apply, to the extent that—

(a) they are capable of applying; and

(b) they are not applied, with or without modifications, by any other enactment or subordinate legislation (whenever passed or made).

(2) In this rule references to rules of evidence include rules conferring or restricting any discretion to exclude admissible evidence.

(3) No person may be required—

(a) to answer any question which he could not be required to answer in a trial on indictment in England and Wales; or

(b) to produce any document which he could not be required to produce in such a trial.

(4) The court may take judicial notice of matters of which judicial notice could be taken in a trial on indictment in England and Wales.

59

(1) Oral testimony shall be given on oath.

(2) This rule is subject to—

(a) section 5 of the Oaths Act 1978 (affirmation);

(b) section 31 of the 1999 Act (evidence admitted under a special measures direction); and

60

(1) Without prejudice to rule 58, section 9 of the 1967 Act (proof by written statement) shall apply, subject to paragraph (2), in relation to a statement made—

(a) in the United Kingdom by any person, or

(b) outside the United Kingdom by a person subject to service law or a civilian subject to service discipline,

as it applies in criminal proceedings in relation to a statement made in the United Kingdom.

(2) In its application by virtue of this rule, section 9 of the 1967 Act shall have effect as if—

(a) subsection (2)(c) required service of the statement on the court administration officer (as well as each of the other parties to the proceedings);

(b) in subsection (2)(d), the reference to the parties' solicitors were to their legal representatives; and

(d) in subsection (6), the references to the court were to the judge advocate.

(3) An application to the court under section 9(4)(b) of the 1967 Act—

(a) may be made in preliminary proceedings; or

(b) in trial proceedings.

(4) Section 89 of the 1967 Act (offence of making a false statement tendered in evidence) shall apply in relation to a statement tendered in evidence in proceedings of the court by virtue of section 9 of that Act, wherever made, as it applies in relation to a statement tendered in evidence in criminal proceedings by virtue of that section.

61

(1) Without prejudice to rule 58, section 10 of the 1967 Act (proof by formal admission) shall apply, subject to paragraph (2), as it applies in relation to criminal proceedings.

(2) In its application by virtue of this rule, section 10 of the 1967 Act shall have effect as if—

(a) in subsection (1), the reference to the prosecutor were to the Director; and

(b) in subsection (2), references to a defendant's counsel or solicitor were to his legal representative.

62

(1) A person giving oral evidence about any matter may, at any stage in the course of doing so, refresh his memory of it from a document made or verified by him at an earlier time if—

(a) he states in his oral evidence that the document records his recollection of that matter at that earlier time; and

(b) his recollection of the matter is likely to have been significantly better at that time than it is at the time of his oral evidence.

(2) Where—

(a) a person giving oral evidence about any matter has previously given an oral account, of which a sound recording was made, and he states in that evidence that the account represented his recollection of the matter at that time,

(b) his recollection of the matter is likely to have been significantly better at the time of the previous account than it is at the time of his oral evidence, and

he may, at any stage in the course of giving his evidence, refresh his memory of the matter from that transcript.

63

(1) Where, in trial proceedings—

(a) the Director intends to adduce evidence of a defendant's bad character, or

(b) a defendant intends to adduce evidence of another defendant's bad character, or to cross-examine a witness with a view to eliciting such evidence,

he must serve on the court administration officer and all other parties to the proceedings a notice of that intention.

(2) A notice under this rule—

(a) must describe the misconduct to which the evidence relates;

(b) must state what evidence of the misconduct the party serving the notice intends to adduce or elicit;

(d) identify the paragraph or paragraphs of section 101(1) of the 2003 Act which the party serving the notice asserts to be applicable to the evidence.

(3) If served by the Director, a notice under this rule must be served not more than 14 days after the Director serves advance information in respect of the charge to which the evidence relates.

(4) If served by a defendant, a notice under this rule must be served not more than 14 days after—

(a) the date on which the Director complies or purports to comply with article 4 of the CPIA Order; or,

(b) if later, the date on which the Director discloses to the defendant the previous convictions of the co-defendant to whose misconduct the notice relates.

(5) If it is not reasonably practicable to serve a notice under this rule within the time prescribed by paragraph (3) or (4) (as the case may be), the notice must be served as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so.

(6) The court may dispense with the requirement to serve a notice under this rule if satisfied that no injustice would result.

64

(1) An application under section 101(3) of the 2003 Act to exclude evidence of a defendant's bad character in trial proceedings must be made in writing to the court administration officer and served on all other parties to the proceedings, unless the court gives leave for the application to be made orally.

(2) If made in writing, the application—

(a) must state whether a notice under rule 63 has been served on the applicant in relation to the evidence, and if so on what date; and

(b) must be made and served not more than 14 days after that date (if any), unless paragraph (3) applies.

(3) Where—

(a) the court dispenses with the requirement to serve a notice under rule 63, or

(b) such a notice is served but it is not reasonably practicable to make the application within 14 days of the service of the notice,

the application must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable.

65

(1) An application for leave to give evidence in trial proceedings of the bad character of a person other than a defendant must be made in writing to the court administration officer and served on all other parties to the proceedings, unless the court gives leave for the application to be made orally.

(2) If made in writing, such an application—

(a) must describe the misconduct to which the evidence relates;

(b) must state what evidence of the misconduct the applicant seeks to adduce or elicit;

(d) must state the grounds on which the applicant asserts that the evidence is admissible.

(3) If made by the Director, an application under this rule must be made not more than 14 days after the Director serves advance information in respect of the charge to which the evidence relates.

(4) If made by a defendant, an application under this rule must be made not more than 14 days after—

(a) the date on which the Director complies or purports to comply with article 4 of the CPIA Order; or,

(b) if later, the date on which the Director discloses to the defendant the previous convictions of the person to whose misconduct the application relates.

(5) If it is not reasonably practicable to make an application under this rule within the time prescribed by paragraph (3) or (4) (as the case may be), the application must be made as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so.

66

(1) Where a party to trial proceedings proposes to adduce a hearsay statement, or (in the case of a defendant) to cross-examine a witness with a view to eliciting evidence of such a statement, on the basis that the statement is admissible by virtue of—

(a) section 114(1)(d) of the 2003 Act (interests of justice),

(b) section 116 of that Act (maker of statement unavailable to give oral evidence), or

he must serve on the court administration officer and all other parties to the proceedings a notice to that effect.

(2) A notice under this rule—

(a) must give details of the statement that the party serving the notice proposes to tender in evidence;

(b) where the statement is contained in a document which has not already been served on all the other parties, must include a copy of the document;

(c) where the notice is served by the Director and oral evidence of the statement is to be given, must identify any witness who is to give it;

(d) must specify whether the party serving the notice proposes to tender the statement by virtue of section 114(1)(d), 116 or 117 of the 2003 Act;

(e) where he proposes to tender the statement by virtue of section 114(1)(d) of that Act, must specify which of the factors mentioned in section 114(2) of that Act are relevant, and how they are relevant; and

(f) where the statement is evidence that an earlier hearsay statement was made, must specify whether he proposes to tender it by virtue of section 121(1)(a), (b) or (c) of that Act.

(3) Where a notice under this rule is served by the Director, it must be served not more than 14 days after the Director serves advance information in respect of the charge to which the evidence relates.

(4) Where a notice under this rule is served by a defendant, it must be served not more than 14 days after the Director complies or purports to comply with article 4 of the CPIA Order.

(5) Where—

(a) a notice has been served under this rule in relation to a hearsay statement, and

(b) no counter-notice has been served in accordance with rule 67 in relation to the statement,

the statement is to be treated as admissible by agreement of the parties.

(6) In this rule “hearsay statement” means a statement which—

(a) is not made in oral evidence in the proceedings; and

(b) is relied on as evidence of a matter stated in it.

67

(1) Where a party serves a notice under rule 66 in relation to a statement, any other party may serve a counter-notice objecting to the admission of the statement.

(2) A counter-notice served under this rule must state—

(a) the date on which the party serving it was served with the notice under rule 66;

(b) whether he objects to the admission of the whole or only part of the statement, and if only part which part; and

(3) A counter-notice served under this rule must be served on the court administration officer and all other parties to the proceedings not more than 14 days after service of the notice under rule 66.

68

(1) A document purporting to be an enlistment paper used to enlist a person in accordance with regulations made under section 328 shall be evidence that—

(a) that person was enlisted, on the date on which the declaration in the enlistment paper purports to have been signed by him, and on the terms set out in the document; and

(b) anything recorded in the document as the answer given by him to a question in the document was given by him in answer to that question when it was put to him by or on the direction of the recruiting officer who enlisted him.

(2) A document purporting to be a copy of such a document as is mentioned in paragraph (1) and purporting to be certified to be a true copy by a person stated in the certificate to have custody of the document shall be evidence of the matters mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of that paragraph.

69

A document stating that a person—

(a) was or was not serving at any specified time or during any specified period in any part of Her Majesty's forces,

(b) was discharged from any of Her Majesty's forces at or before any specified time,

(d) had at or before any specified time been attached, posted or transferred to any part of Her Majesty's forces,

(e) at any specified time or during any specified period was or was not serving or held or did not hold any rank, rate or appointment in any particular country or place, or

(f) was or was not at any specified time authorised to use or wear any decoration, badge or emblem,

shall, if it purports to be issued by or on behalf of the Defence Council or by a person authorised by them, be evidence of the matters stated in the document.

70

(1) A record purporting to be—

(a) made in any service record in pursuance of any Act or of Queen's Regulations, or otherwise in pursuance of naval, military, or air force duty, and

(b) signed by the commanding officer of the person to whom the record relates or by a person whose duty it was to make or keep the record,

shall be evidence of the matters stated in the record.

(2) A document purporting to be a copy of such a record (including the signature) as is mentioned in paragraph (1) and purporting to be certified to be a true copy by a person stated in the certificate to have custody of the record shall be evidence of the matters stated in the document.

71

(1) A document purporting to be issued by order of the Defence Council and to contain instructions or regulations given or made by the Defence Council shall be evidence of the giving of the instructions or the making of the regulations and their contents.

(2) A certificate purporting to be issued by or on behalf of the Defence Council or by a person authorised by them and stating—

(a) that a decoration of a description specified in, or as annexed to, the certificate is or is not a naval, military or air force decoration, or

(b) that a badge or emblem of a description specified in, or as annexed to, the certificate is or is not one supplied or authorised by the Defence Council,

shall be evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.

72

(1) A certificate purporting to be signed by a person's commanding officer or an officer authorised by the commanding officer to give the certificate, and stating the contents of, or of any part of, standing orders, or other routine orders of a continuing nature, of any of Her Majesty's forces, made for any—

(a) part of Her Majesty's forces,

(b) area or place, or

shall be evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.

73

(1) Expert evidence shall not be adduced without the leave of the court unless the party proposing to rely on it has served on every other party and the court administration officer, not less than 14 days before the date appointed for the commencement of the proceedings, a statement of the substance of the expert evidence.

(2) The statement referred to in paragraph (1) must be in writing unless every other party consents to its being made orally.

(3) Where more than one party wishes to introduce expert evidence, the court may direct the experts to—

(a) discuss the expert issues in the proceedings; and

(b) prepare a statement for the court of the matters on which they agree and disagree, giving their reasons.

(4) Except for the statement prepared under paragraph (3)(b), the content of the discussion under paragraph (3)(a) may not be referred to without the court's permission.

(5) Where more than one defendant wishes to introduce expert evidence on an issue, the court may direct that the evidence on that issue is to be given by one expert only.

(6) Where the defendants cannot agree who should be the expert to give evidence under paragraph (5), the court may—

(a) select the expert from a list prepared or identified by them; or

(b) direct that the expert be selected in such other manner as the court shall direct.

(7) Where the court gives a direction under paragraph (5) for a single joint expert to be used, each of the defendants may give instructions to the expert.

(8) When a defendant gives instructions to the expert under paragraph (7) he must, at the same time, send a copy of the instructions to every other defendant.

(9) Where—

(a) a statement has been prepared for the purposes of proceedings, and

(b) the person who prepared the statement had, or may reasonably be supposed to have had, personal knowledge of the matters stated,

a statement served under paragraph (1) may be accompanied by a notice, given for the purposes of section 127 of the 2003 Act (expert evidence: preparatory work), that another person will in evidence given in the proceedings (whether orally or under section 9 of the 1967 Act, as applied by rule 60) base an opinion or inference on the statement.

74

(1) In this Chapter—

“eligible witness” means a witness eligible for assistance by virtue of rule 75 or 76;

“intermediary” has the same meaning as in section 29 of the 1999 Act;

“modern slavery offence” means an offence under section 42 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales is—an offence under section 1 (slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour) or 2 (human trafficking) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015;an offence of attempting or conspiring to commit such an offence; oran offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 (encouraging and assisting crime) where the offence (or one of the offences) which the offender intended or believed would be committed is a modern slavery offence;

“sexual offence” means an offence under section 42 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales is— an offence which is— an offence under Part 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, ora relevant superseded offence as defined by section 62(1A) of the 1999 Act (meaning of “sexual offence” and other references to offences);an offence of attempting or conspiring to commit, or of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring or inciting the commission of, such an offence; oran offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 (encouraging and assisting crime) committed in relation to such an offence;

“special measures direction” means a direction providing for one or more of the special measures available in relation to a witness to apply to evidence given by the witness;

“the special measures provisions” means the provisions of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the 1999 Act applied by an order under section 61(1) of that Act.

(2) In this Chapter—

(a) references to the quality of a witness's evidence are to its quality in terms of completeness, coherence and accuracy (and for this purpose “coherence” refers to a witness's ability in giving evidence to give answers which address the questions put to the witness and can be understood both individually and collectively); and

(b) references to the special measures available in relation to a witness are to be construed in accordance with rule 77.

75

(1) A witness is eligible for assistance by virtue of this rule if the witness is under the age of 18 at the time when it falls to the court to consider whether to give a special measures direction in relation to the witness.

(2) A witness is also eligible for assistance by virtue of this rule if the court considers that the quality of evidence given by the witness is likely to be diminished because the witness—

(a) suffers from mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983 ;

(b) otherwise has a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning; or

76

(1) A witness (other than a defendant) is eligible for assistance by virtue of this rule if the court is satisfied that the quality of evidence given by the witness is likely to be diminished by reason of fear or distress on the part of the witness in connection with testifying in the proceedings.

(2) A witness is also eligible for assistance by virtue of this rule if—

(a) the proceedings are in respect of—

(i) a sexual offence,

(ii) a modern slavery offence, or

(iii) any other offence where it is alleged that the behaviour of the defendant amounted to domestic abuse;

(b) the witness is a complainant in respect of that offence; and

77

(1) Where a witness (other than a defendant) is eligible for assistance by virtue of rule 75, the special measures available in relation to him are those for which provision is made by sections 23 and 25 to 30 of the 1999 Act.

(2) Where a witness is eligible for assistance by virtue of rule 76, the special measures available in relation to him are those for which provision is made by sections 23 and 25 to 28 of that Act.

(3) Where a defendant is eligible for assistance by virtue of rule 75, the special measures available in relation to him are those for which provision is made by sections 29 and 30 of that Act.

(4) In a domestic abuse case a special measure for which provision is made by any of sections 23 and 25 to 28 of the 1999 Act is only available under paragraph (2) if section 62 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (special measures in criminal proceedings for offences involving domestic abuse) is in force for the purposes of that section of the 1999 Act.

(5) In this rule “domestic abuse case” means proceedings falling within rule 91(2)(a) by virtue only of paragraph (iii) of that sub-paragraph.

78

(1) Subject to the special measures provisions and this Chapter, the court may give a special measures direction in relation to a witness if—

(a) the witness is an eligible witness; and

(b) any of the special measures available in relation to the witness (or any combination of them) would, in the court's opinion, be likely to improve the quality of evidence given by the witness.

(2) A special measures direction must specify particulars of the provision made by the direction in respect of each special measure which is to apply to the witness's evidence.

(3) In determining whether any special measure or measures would be likely to improve the quality of evidence given by the witness, and if so whether to give a direction providing for the measure or measures to apply, the court must consider all the circumstances of the case, including in particular—

(a) any views expressed by the witness; and

(b) whether the measure or measures might tend to inhibit such evidence being effectively tested by a party to the proceedings.

(4) Where there are two or more defendants—

(a) any reference to the defendant in the special measures provisions may be taken, in connection with the giving of a special measures direction, as a reference to all or any of the defendants, as the court may determine; and

(b) any such direction may be given on the basis of any such determination.

(5) A special measures direction may provide for one or more special measures to apply in combination with a direction under rule 18 (live links), and for the purposes of this Chapter a measure would be likely to improve the quality of the witness's evidence if, were it combined with such a direction, it would be likely to do so.

(6) The court may give a special measures direction—

(a) on an application made by a party to the proceedings; or

(b) of its own motion.

(7) A judge advocate who gives, or refuses an application for, a special measures direction must state in open court his reasons for doing so.

(8) Nothing in this Chapter is to be regarded as affecting any power of the court to make an order or give leave of any description—

(a) in relation to a witness who is not an eligible witness; or

(b) in relation to an eligible witness, where the order is made or the leave is given otherwise than by reason of the fact that the witness is an eligible witness.

79

A special measures direction may not provide for the exclusion of persons under section 25 of the 1999 Act unless—

(a) the proceedings relate to—

(i) a sexual offence,

(ii) a modern slavery offence, or

(iii) any other offence where it is alleged that the behaviour of the defendant amounted to domestic abuse; or

(b) it appears to the court that there are reasonable grounds for believing that any person other than a defendant has sought, or will seek, to intimidate the witness in connection with testifying in the proceedings.

80

(1) A special measures direction may not provide for a video recording, or a part of such a recording, to be admitted under section 27 of the 1999 Act 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.

(2) In considering for the purposes of paragraph (1) whether any part of a recording should not be so admitted, the court must consider whether any prejudice to a defendant 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.

(3) Where a special measures direction provides for a recording to be admitted under section 27 of the 1999 Act, the court may nevertheless subsequently direct that it is not to be so admitted if—

(a) it appears to the court that—

(i) the witness will not be available for cross-examination (whether conducted in the ordinary way or in accordance with any such direction), and

(ii) the parties to the proceedings have not agreed that there is no need for the witness to be so available; or

(b) rule 83 has not been complied with to the satisfaction of the court.

(4) Paragraph (3) is without prejudice to rule 84 (power to vary or discharge special measures direction).

(5) Where a recording is admitted under section 27 of the 1999 Act—

(a) the witness must be called by the party tendering it in evidence, unless –

(i) a special measures direction provides for the witness’s evidence on cross-examination to be given in any recording admissible under section 28 of the 1999 Act (video recorded cross-examination or re-examination), or

(ii) the parties to the proceedings have agreed that there is no need for the witness to be called; and

(b) the witness may not give evidence in chief otherwise than by means of the recording—

(i) as to any matter which, in the opinion of the court, has been dealt with adequately in the witness's recorded testimony; or

(ii) without the leave of the court, as to any other matter which, in the opinion of the court, is dealt with in that testimony.

(6) Where a special measures direction provides for part only of a recording to be admitted under section 27 of the 1999 Act, references in paragraphs (3) 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.

(7) The court may give leave for the purposes of paragraph (5)(b)(ii) if it appears to him to be in the interests of justice to do so, and may do so either—

(a) on an application by a party to the proceedings; or

(b) of his own motion.

81

(1) Any examination of a witness conducted in pursuance of a provision included in a special measures direction by virtue of section 29(1) of the 1999 Act (examination of witness through intermediary) must take place—

(a) in the presence of such persons as the direction may provide; and

(b) in circumstances in which the court, 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 for this purpose any impairment of eyesight or hearing is to be disregarded).

(2) Where two or more legal representatives are acting for a party to the proceedings, paragraph (1)(b) 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.

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