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732557

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Trials
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether judges hearing trials involving rape or serious sexual assault are required to attend a course accredited by the Judicial College before the commencement of proceedings.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	1162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>The Lord Chief Justice is responsible for the training of the judiciary.</p><p>Judges will only be listed to hear trials involving rape or serious sexual assault if they have been authorised and trained accordingly.</p><p>All Circuit Judges and Recorders who hear such cases in the Crown Court must be authorised to do so by the Senior Presiding Judge, and must then attend a Serious Sexual Offences Seminar (SSOS) provided by the Judicial College, before they can begin hearing such cases.</p><p>Queen’s Bench High Court Judges in the criminal jurisdiction have an automatic authority to hear such trials, and if they have not previously attended a SSOS they are asked to do so at the earliest opportunity.</p> answering member constituency Esher and Walton answering member printed Dominic Raab question first answered 04/07/2017 12:34:07 answering member 4007 label Biography information for Dominic Raab
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

732556

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Trials
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what special measures are available for victims involved in sexual assault or rape proceedings.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
	uin	1161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>There are a range of special measures in place for vulnerable and intimidated victims and witnesses in criminal justice proceedings. Complainants of sexual offences are eligible for special measures as ‘intimidated witnesses’ but they may also be eligible as ‘vulnerable witnesses’ if they are under 18 or lacking in capacity. The measures available for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses include the power for a court to order arrangements for live video links, video recorded evidence in chief, and screens around the witness box. Courts are also able to order that vulnerable victims and witnesses receive assistance with communication, including the use of an intermediary, to help them understand the questions they are being asked and to give their answers accurately. We have partially commenced the provision of pre-recorded cross examination of vulnerable witnesses in 3 crown court centres. This partial commencement will be extended to complainants in sexual and modern slavery offences for cases starting in September 2017.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 04/07/2017 14:05:06 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts