The Child Witness Review: Much Ado About Too Little
Criminal Law Review, p. 849, 2007
Posted: 10 Nov 2008
Date Written: November 7, 2007
Abstract
In December 2004 the Government announced a review of child evidence with a remit to consider whether section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, providing for video taped pre-trial cross-examination, should be retained in some form, to review the performance of Special Measures for child witnesses, and to consider measures for vulnerable defendants. The Review Group's Consultation Paper, Improving the Criminal Trial Process of Young Witnesses, was published only in June 2007. This article critically evaluates the most significant recommendations. As of October 2008, the Government had yet to publish its position regarding the responses to the Consultation Paper, notwithstanding that the consultation period had closed in October 2007.
Keywords: child witnesses, evidence
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation