Vulnerable witnesses practice direction
A consultation on the proposed practice direction to facilitate vulnerable witnesses in family proceedings.
This is a consultation relating to new draft Practice Direction 3AA, Vulnerable persons: participation in proceedings and giving evidence. This is intended to support a new Part 3A of the Family Procedure Rules. Part 3A remains in draft and is included for convenience but does not form part of this consultation.
The Practice Direction has been developed following the publication in March 2015 of the final report of the judicial Working Group on Vulnerable Witnesses and Children jointly chaired by Russell J and Hayden J. The Working Group was set up by the President of the Family Division to review existing Family Justice Council guidance on children meeting judges and on children giving evidence and to address the wider issue of vulnerable people giving evidence in family proceedings. The Family Practice Rules Committee consulted last year on a set of draft new Part 3A rules.