The fee will rise from £670 (+ VAT) to £1,000 (+ VAT). Under s 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, vulnerable witnesses and intimidated witnesses can video record their cross-examination, which is then presented at the trial without the witnesses needing to attend.
Nick Vineall, Chair of the Bar, said: ‘The inadequate fees to date have been a contributory factor in the shortage of counsel for rape and serious sexual offence (RASSO) cases.’
The use of pre-recorded cross-examination is currently the subject of a Justice Committee review.
Vineall said it was ‘right’ that the Justice Committee review s 28 hearings since ‘its overuse may lead to lower conviction rates because recorded evidence may not be considered by juries to be as compelling as evidence given in front of them’.
.tmb-mov69x69.jpg?sfvrsn=16d9dd3d_1)
