Commentary on Sections Vulnerable witnesses Section 19 – Temporary additional special measures
48.Section 271H of the 1995 Act specifies a range of special measures that may be used to assist vulnerable witnesses to give their evidence to the court. Section 19 allows the Scottish Ministers to create additional special measures by order for a temporary period. This may be used to pilot additional special measures before any decision is taken on whether or not to introduce these measures more widely (section 21 deals with order making powers to prescribe further special measures). The order must specify where the temporary special measure should take place, the procedures to be used, and for how long it should operate. The order can also set out in what type of proceedings and in what courts the additional special measures are to be used.