Section 48 and Schedule 18: Powers to act for the protection of public health: Northern Ireland Section 56 and Schedule 26: Live links in magistrates’ court appeals against requirements or restrictions imposed on a potentially infectious person
This Schedule inserts sections 57ZA to 57ZF into the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980.
	It provides that appeals against decisions by the Secretary of State or an authorised public health official to impose restrictions under powers set out in section 51 and Schedule 21, be heard by telephone or video in civil proceedings in the Magistrates Court, subject to the court’s power to direct different arrangement be made. The court may, if it is in the interests of justice, direct that one or more persons should not participate in the appeal by video; or that they should participate by telephone. Such a direction may be made by a single magistrate or authorised court officer (as defined in subsection (5)).
	Sections 57ZD and 57ZE create new criminal offences in relation to:
the unauthorised recording or transmission of a broadcast of a live video or audio hearing and,
the unauthorised recording and transmission in relation to a person’s participation in proceedings through live video or audio links. These sections create the same criminal offences and make identical provisions to those in section 55 and Schedule 25.
	The territorial extent and application of the section and Schedule is England and Wales only.