Vulnerable Witnesses Scotland Act 2004 2004 Asp 3

This Act is in three parts and makes provision for the use of special measures in criminal and civil court proceedings which involve taking evidence from children and other vulnerable witnesses. Provisions include: i) allowing, in certain cases, the admittance of evidence of previous identifications and expert evidence in regard to the subsequent behaviour of complainants; ii) introducing restrictions on an accused from personally conducting his/her own defence, and establishing a discretionary power to prohibit this in cases involving vulnerable witnesses, and an automatic prohibition in cases involving child witnesses under the age of 12 years old; iii) placing restrictions on the extent to which evidence can be led regarding the character and sexual history of a witness in referrals from the children's hearing system; and iv) the abolition of the competence test for all witnesses.

The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 amends the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 for criminal cases. It creates a similar regime for civil cases, so that vulnerability of witnesses is considered, and measures are taken to support vulnerable witnesses to give evidence effectively. This book contains the Act's main provisions together with commentary to help you to understand it fully. Informed by the authors' experience of vulnerable witnesses in practice, the book provides an essential reference for lawyers, law students, those who lead or hear witness in court and other professionals dealing with young people and adults who may be vulnerable as potential witnesses.

Law making is a primary function of government, and how well the three devolved UK legislatures exercise this function will be a crucial test of the whole devolution project. This book provides the first systematic study and authoritative data to start that assessment. It represents the fruits of a four-year collaboration between top constitutional lawyers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and leading researchers in UCL's Constitution Unit. The book opens with detailed studies of law making in the period 1999–2004 in the Scottish Parliament and the Assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland, and how they interact with Westminster. Later contributions look at aspects of legislative partnership in the light of the UK's strongly asymmetric devolutionary development, and also explain the unexpected impact of devolution on the courts. Individual chapters focus on various constitutional aspects of law making, examining the interplay of continuity and change in political, legal and administrative practice, and the competing pressures for convergence and divergence between the different parliaments and assemblies. This book is essential reading for academics and students in law and in politics, and for anyone interested in the constitutional and legal aspects of UK devolution, not least the practitioners and policymakers in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

′This book is a triumph in its clarity, scholarship and sheer scope. It is increasingly vital that criminologists understand crime and the criminal justice system in depth, and Ursula Smartt unmasks the mysteries and lays bare the complexities of law like few other writers on the subject. This is the book on criminal law that should be on the shelf of everyone connected to the criminal law′ - Baroness Helena Kennedy QC ′Law for Criminologists is a timely and concise introduction for those in criminology and law. Combining accessibility and scholarship, it will be welcomed by students and lecturers alike′ - Dr Azrini Wahidin, Reader and Programme Director for Criminology, Queen′s University Belfast ′Highly informative, comprehensive and reader-friendly - this groundbreaking book is essential reading for all who are engaged in the study of criminology′ - Peter Joyce, Manchester Metropolitan University This practical guide introduces students to the basic principles of the law, enabling a comprehensive understanding of criminology and criminal justice. Law for Criminologists will enthuse the student and teacher about the law whilst giving sound advice on how to achieve a thorough comprehension of the topic. Striking a much-needed balance between essential law for criminologists, and commentary on current legal issues, this book provides the reader with a full understanding of: " the workings of the law in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland " the European Union legal frameworks " the law of evidence and the criminal process " punishment and sentencing " human rights issues " the differences between youth justice and adult criminal legislation " how to undertake independent legal research and further reading in the discipline. Packed with extensive learning aids including case studies, boxed notes, sample examination questions, appendices of statutes and cases and a comprehensive glossary, this book is vital for all students in criminology and criminal justice. As well as an extensive foreword by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC.

This volume contains the main provisions of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 with a commentary informed by the authors' experience of vulnerable witnesses in practice. The Act created a new regime for civil and criminal cases so that the vulnerability of witnesses is to be considered and measures taken to support children and adults who meet the criteria of vulnerability to give evidence effectively.

'A refreshing complement to more venerable textbooks. Indeed, being both reflective and accessible, it is arguably a better first resort for aspirant hacks' Times Higher Education Supplement 'It is written in a clear and user-friendly style, avoiding the legalistic language that can be a problem with so many law textbooks. Particularly well written are the case studies that Ursula Smartt explains in each chapter' - Writing Magazine Media Law for Journalists functions as both an introduction and a reference guide to the main legal issues facing journalists. It is intended as a course textbook for students, first and foremost. However, it is also intended to help keep journalists out of jail and on the right side of the law. The book presumes no prior legal knowledge, but covers all the relevant areas including: defamation, privacy, contempt of court, freedom of expression, and intellectual property. It also looks at the difference between the English and Scottish legal systems as they pertain to the media. This book will be essential reading for all students of journalism as well a welcome guide to professional journalists.

Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (UK) The Law Library presents the official text of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (UK). Updated as of March 26, 2018 This book contains: - The complete text of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (UK) - A table of contents with the page number of each section