New clause 2 - Amendments to the Youth Justice and
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [Lords]
2:45 pm
'In section 17 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (c.23) (witnesses eligible for assistance on grounds of fear or distress about testifying) after subsection (4) insert—
''(4A) Where the complainant in respect of proceedings relating to any form of molestation, including violence, involving the complainant, a cohabitant, a relevant child or associated persons, is a witness in such proceedings, the witness is eligible for assistance in relation to those proceedings by virtue of this subsection unless the witness has informed the court of the witness' wish not to be so eligible by virtue of this subsection.
(4B) For the purposes of this subsection, 'cohabitant', 'relevant child' and 'associated persons' mean a person as defined by section 62 of the Family Law Act 1996 (c.27) (meaning of ''cohabitants'', ''relevant child'' and ''associated person'') as amended by sections 2 and 3 of this Act''.'.—[Mrs. Gillan.]
Brought up, and read the First time.