The Act Child witnesses Section 1 – Child witnesses in certain solemn cases
5.Section 1 inserts 3 new sections in the 1995 Act (sections 271BZA, 271BZB and 271BZC). Section 271BZA provides that in certain solemn criminal proceedings the court must enable any child witnesses to give their evidence in advance of the hearing (“the new rule”), section 271BZB sets out modifications that are needed to section 271A in cases where the new rule applies and section 271BZC sets out modifications that are needed to section 271D in cases where the new rule applies.