Evidence Act 1929

Where a court considers it desirable in the interests of the administration of justice, or in order to prevent hardship or embarrassment to any person, to exercise the powers conferred by this section, it may order specified persons, or all persons except those specified, to absent themselves from the place in which the court is being held during the whole or any part of the proceedings before the court.

Where the alleged victim of a sexual offence is a child and is to give evidence (including evidence admitted in the form of an audio visual record) in proceedings related to the offence, an order must be made under subsection (1) requiring all persons except—

those whose presence is required for the purposes of the proceedings; and

a person who is present at the request or with the consent of the child to provide emotional support for the child; and

any other person who, in the opinion of the court, should be allowed to be present, to absent themselves from the place in which the court is being held while the child is giving evidence.

Where child exploitation material (within the meaning of section 62 of the Criminal

those whose presence is required for the purposes of the proceedings; and

any other person who, in the opinion of the court, should be allowed to be present, to absent themselves from the place in which the court is being held while the evidence is adduced.

The court may, on the application of a person against whom an order under subsection (1) operates, make available to him a transcript of evidence, and a record of proceedings, taken before the court during the operation of the order.

Where a court refuses an application under subsection (2), the applicant may appeal against the refusal.