§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department towards88W encouraging courts in England and Wales to allow rape or child abuse victims to give their evidence behind screens to try to stop intimidation of such people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenIt is for the courts to decide in the circumstances of each case whether or not to use screens. In addition, section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 enables children under the age of 14 to give evidence by live television link from outside the courtroom in trials on indictment for violent and sexual offences. An advisory group chaired by his honour Judge Thomas Pigot QC is considering whether video-recorded evidence by children and other vulnerable witnesses should be admissible in criminal proceedings, and we look forward to receiving its report in the summer. We will examine any proposals for further protecting witnesses from courtroom intimidation in the light of group's findings.