Criminal Procedure Rules

Part 36 - Evidence about a complainant's sexual behaviour

Contents of this Part
Title	Number
When this Part applies	Rule 36.1
Application for permission to introduce evidence or cross-examine	Rule 36.2
Content of application	Rule 36.3
Service of application	Rule 36.4
Reply to application	Rule 36.5
Application for special measures	Rule 36.6
Court’s power to vary requirements under this Part	Rule 36.7

[Note. The rules in this Part derive in part from rule 23D of the Crown Court Rules 1982¹.

Section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999² prohibits evidence or cross-examination about the sexual behaviour of a complainant of a sexual offence, subject to exceptions.

See also:

section 42 of the 1999 Act³, which among other things defines ‘sexual behaviour’ and ‘sexual offence’;
section 43⁴, which among other things, requires –
- an application under section 41 to be heard in private and in the absence of the complainant,
- the reasons for the court's decision on an application to be given in open court,
- the court to state in open court the extent to which evidence may be introduced or questions asked;
section 34, which prohibits cross-examination by a defendant in person of the complainant of a sexual offence.]

36.1 When this Part applies

This Part applies in magistrates' courts and in the Crown Court where a defendant wants to –

(a) introduce evidence; or

(b) cross-examine a witness

about a complainant's sexual behaviour despite the prohibition in section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.

36.2 Application for permission to introduce evidence or cross-examine

The defendant must apply for permission to do so –

(a) in writing; and

(b) not more than 28 days after the prosecutor has complied or purported to comply with section 3 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996⁵ (disclosure by prosecutor).

[Note. See Part 3 for the court's general powers to consider an application with or without a hearing and to give directions.

At a pre-trial hearing a court may make binding rulings about the admissibility of evidence and about questions of law under section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987⁶; sections 31 and 40 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996⁷; and section 45 of the Courts Act 2003⁸.]

36.3 Content of application

The application must –

(a) identify the issue to which the defendant says the complainant's sexual behaviour is relevant;

(b) give particulars of –

(i) any evidence that the defendant wants to introduce, and

(ii) any questions that the defendant wants to ask;

(c) identify the exception to the prohibition in section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 on which the defendant relies; and

(d) give the name and date of birth of any witness whose evidence about the complainant's sexual behaviour the defendant wants to introduce.

36.4 Service of application

The defendant must serve the application on the court officer and all other parties.

36.5 Reply to application

A party who wants to make representations about an application under rule 36.2 must –

(a) do so in writing not more than 14 days after receiving it; and

(b) serve those representations on the court officer and all other parties.

36.6 Application for special measures

If the court allows an application under rule 36.2 then –

(a) a party may apply not more than 14 days later for a special measures direction or for the variation of an existing special measures direction; and

(b) the court may shorten the time for opposing that application.

[Note. Special measures to improve the quality of evidence given by certain witnesses may be directed by the court under section 19 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 and varied under section 20⁹. An application for a special measures direction may be made by a party under Part 29 or the court may make a direction on its own initiative. Rule 29.1(6) sets the usual time limit (14 days) for opposing a special measures application.]

36.7 Court’s power to vary requirements under this Part

The court may shorten or extend (even after it has expired) a time limit under this Part.

Footnotes

1. S.I. 1982/1109; amended by S.I. 2000/2987; there are other amending instruments, but none is relevant.Back to rule

2. 1999 c. 23Back to rule

3. Section 42(3)(c) was amended by section 41 of, and paragraph 73(1) and (3)(b) of Schedule 3 to, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44). Section 42(3)(a) and (b) is repealed by section 41 of, and paragraph 73(1) and (3)(a) of Schedule 3 and Schedule 37 to, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), with effect from a date to be appointed.Back to rule

4. Section 43(3) was amended by section 109(1) of, and paragraph 384(g) of Schedule 8 to, the Courts Act 2003 (c. 39).Back to rule

5. 1996 c. 25; section 3 was amended by section 82(1) of, and paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 4 to, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23) and sections 32 and 331 of, and paragraphs 20 and 21 of Schedule 36 to, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c.44).Back to rule

6. 1987 c. 38; section 7 was amended by section 168(1) of, and paragraph 30 of Schedule 9 to, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c. 33) and section 310(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) and is further amended by sections 45 and 331 of, and paragraphs 52 and 53 of Schedule 36 to, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), with effect from dates to be appointed. Section 7(3),(4) and (5) was repealed by sections 72 and 80 of, and paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 and Schedule 5 to, the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (c. 25).Back to rule

7. 1996 c. 25; section 31 is amended by sections 310(5), 331 and 332 of, and paragraphs 20, 36, 65 and 67 of Schedule 36 and Schedule 37 to, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), with effect from dates to be appointed.Back to rule

8. 2003 c. 39Back to rule

9. Section 20(6) is amended by paragraph 384(a) of Schedule 8 to the Courts Act 2003 (c. 39).Back to rule