Criminal litigation

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Act 2008, which came into force on 21 July 2008, enables the making of “witness anonymity orders”. Section 4 sets out the conditions for making an order; s 5 sets out the considerations to which the court must have regard when deciding whether or not those conditions are met. Section 7 requires the judge to give a warning to the jury in crown court trials to ensure that the making of the order does not prejudice the defendant.