Part 5: Protection for victims and witnesses in court Section 65: Prohibition of cross-examination in person in family proceedings
This section inserts new Part 4B (comprising new sections 31Q to 31Z) into the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 ("MFPA 1984") to automatically prohibit perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims in person in the family courts in certain circumstances in England and Wales, and vice versa, and give such courts discretion to prevent cross-examination in person in other circumstances where it would affect the quality of the witness’ evidence or cause significant distress. It also gives family courts the power to, in certain circumstances, appoint a publicly-funded qualified legal representative to conduct cross-examination in the interests of the party prohibited or prevented from cross-examining in person