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The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 which received Royal Assent on 27 July 1999 combines two quite distinct legislative projects. In Part I, the Act carries forward the Governments ambitious plans to tackle youth crime and reform youth justice which had been set in train by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. In Part II, the Act addresses various problems relating to vulnerable witnesses, not simply for the purpose of protecting and supporting such persons but also in the interests of maximising the evidence available in criminal courts and improving its quality. The Act was broadly supported by all sides in its passage through Parliament and has been generally well received by the legal professions and the press. Notwithstanding this broad support, some aspects of the Act proved controversial. In particular, fears have been expressed that new means for receiving evidence may undermine the oral and adversarial traditions of the criminal trial or work unfairness for defendants; and an unusual alliance of the press and the police have expressed concern that reporting restrictions to protect victims and witnesses may hamper the proper functions of the press in reporting crime and assisting investigations.
Approximate Word count = 959
Approximate Pages = 3.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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