Commentary on Sections Part 1: Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Chapter 3: Hearing Evidence through Television Links or by Telephone Section 29: Hearing witnesses abroad through television links
87.Article 10 of the MLAC permits the hearing of witnesses by video link where it is neither possible nor desirable for the witness to travel from his Member State to that where his evidence is required.
88.Outgoing requests from the UK are currently covered by the provisions contained in section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, and section 273 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, which allow the use of video links in limited circumstances. The Act does not change the current position on the types of case when video links can be used to import evidence into UK court proceedings, although the section makes provision for the Secretary of State (or, in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers) to extend this provision to other types of criminal proceedings in the future.