Part 13: Procedures in courts and tribunals Section 200: Expansion of use of video and audio links in criminal proceedings
Subsection (1) amends the CJA 2003 to extend the circumstances in which a criminal court can make a direction for the use of live links during "eligible criminal proceedings".
	It expands the courts’ powers to use technology across a wider range of hearings and participants so that any person (including members of the jury in a criminal trial) may take part in criminal proceedings through a live link. New section 51(2) of the CJA 2003 makes clear that any live link directions relating to the jury must apply to all members of the jury, who must all take part through live video link while present at the same place, at the same time; a direction for a live audio link cannot be made for a jury panel.
	New section 51(3) of the CJA 2003 defines "eligible criminal proceedings" as encompassing preliminary hearings, summary trials, Crown Court trials, appeals to the Crown Court and appeals to the Court of Appeal (criminal division) and proceedings that are preliminary or incidental to such appeals, bail hearings following conviction, sentencing hearings, enforcement hearings and others.
	New section 51(4) of the CJA 2003 provides that the court must be satisfied that a live link direction is in the interests of justice before making one. By way of an additional safeguard, it also provides for the parties, and the relevant youth offending team in youth cases, to be given the opportunity to make representations to the court before the court determines whether to make a live link direction.
	Section 51(5) of the CJA 2003 places a duty on the court to consider all the circumstances of the case when deciding whether to make a live link direction, as well as any relevant guidance from the Lord Chief Justice. Section 51(6) lists those circumstances, including the views of the person to whom the direction would apply, the suitability of facilities that they would need to use, whether the person would be able to take part in the proceedings effectively through a live link, and the arrangements that would need to be made for the public to see or hear the proceedings if a live link is to be used.
	Subsection (2) amends the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 ("the CDA 1998") to omit Part 3A (live links in preliminary, sentencing and enforcement hearings), as the provisions governing live links in those types of hearing are now dealt with under the CJA 2003.
	Subsection (3) introduces Schedule 20 which makes further provision relating to the changes introduced by this section.