Criminal Evidence Act 1979

In paragraph (f)(iii) of the proviso to each of the following enactments, that is to say, section 1 of the Criminal Evidence Act 1898, . . . and section 1 of the Criminal Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) 1923 (under which an accused person who has given evidence against another person charged with the same offence may be cross-examined about his previous convictions and his bad character), for the words “with the same offence” there shall be substituted the words “in the same proceedings”.

Notwithstanding subsection (1) above, a person charged with any offence who, before the coming into force of this Act, has given evidence against any other person charged in the same proceedings shall not by reason of that fact be asked or required to answer any question which he could not have been asked and required to answer but for that subsection.

This Act may be cited as the Criminal Evidence Act 1979.

This Act shall come into force at the end of the period of one month beginning with the date on which it is passed.