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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| 'Emergency' witness law unveiled | 'Emergency' witness law unveiled |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Jack Straw has told MPs that laws to let witnesses give evidence anonymously are to be rushed through Parliament because there was "an emergency". | |
| The law lords' ruling last week that defendants needed to know who was testifying against them has already led to one £6m trial being halted. | The law lords' ruling last week that defendants needed to know who was testifying against them has already led to one £6m trial being halted. |
| Mr Straw, justice secretary, said the use of anonymity was "fundamental" in cases including murder and terrorism. | Mr Straw, justice secretary, said the use of anonymity was "fundamental" in cases including murder and terrorism. |
| He said the changes needed to be rushed in to avoid further cases collapsing. | He said the changes needed to be rushed in to avoid further cases collapsing. |
| He said the legislation was still being drafted but it would also include measures to stop people appealing against convictions on the grounds that there had been anonymous evidence given at their trial. | He said the legislation was still being drafted but it would also include measures to stop people appealing against convictions on the grounds that there had been anonymous evidence given at their trial. |
| Last week the law lords ruled that a man convicted in 2004 of two murders had not received a fair trial, because it was based on evidence from anonymous witnesses. He can now appeal against his conviction. | Last week the law lords ruled that a man convicted in 2004 of two murders had not received a fair trial, because it was based on evidence from anonymous witnesses. He can now appeal against his conviction. |
| In their ruling they said: "No conviction should be based solely or to a decisive extent upon the statements and testimony of anonymous witnesses." | In their ruling they said: "No conviction should be based solely or to a decisive extent upon the statements and testimony of anonymous witnesses." |
| 'Fundamental' | 'Fundamental' |
| The Metropolitan Police have said they are "very concerned" by the ruling and its potential impact on gang crime cases, in which the use of anonymous witnesses has resulted in high-profile convictions. | The Metropolitan Police have said they are "very concerned" by the ruling and its potential impact on gang crime cases, in which the use of anonymous witnesses has resulted in high-profile convictions. |
| Police have warned that up to 40 trials may be affected by the lords' ruling. | Police have warned that up to 40 trials may be affected by the lords' ruling. |
| Mr Straw said he wanted the measures - to come before MPs within a fortnight - rushed through Parliament by the end of July. | Mr Straw said he wanted the measures - to come before MPs within a fortnight - rushed through Parliament by the end of July. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, he acknowledged there were risks associated with rushing legislation through Parliament in this way. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, he acknowledged there were risks associated with rushing legislation through Parliament in this way. |
| But he said: "I wouldn't dream of bringing forward emergency legislation unless there was an emergency." | But he said: "I wouldn't dream of bringing forward emergency legislation unless there was an emergency." |
| He said there had to be an "assumption that an accused can confront his or her accusers in open court - that's fundamental to all systems of justice". | He said there had to be an "assumption that an accused can confront his or her accusers in open court - that's fundamental to all systems of justice". |
| Police 'habit' | Police 'habit' |
| But he insisted the move was needed in certain cases. | But he insisted the move was needed in certain cases. |
| And he hit back at claims by Lib Dem legal affairs spokesman Lord Thomas that witness intimidation was "no greater than it has been in the past" and police had simply got into the "habit" of promising witnesses anonymity. | And he hit back at claims by Lib Dem legal affairs spokesman Lord Thomas that witness intimidation was "no greater than it has been in the past" and police had simply got into the "habit" of promising witnesses anonymity. |
| Mr Straw said: "Witness intimidation is as old as the hills, but it is a growing problem and it is a specific problem in certain inner city areas and we have got to deal with that." | Mr Straw said: "Witness intimidation is as old as the hills, but it is a growing problem and it is a specific problem in certain inner city areas and we have got to deal with that." |
| Speaking earlier to MPs, Mr Straw said anonymous evidence was "these days fundamental to the successful prosecution of a significant number of cases, some of which involve murder, blackmail, violent disorder and terrorism". | Speaking earlier to MPs, Mr Straw said anonymous evidence was "these days fundamental to the successful prosecution of a significant number of cases, some of which involve murder, blackmail, violent disorder and terrorism". |
| And he added: "Such cases could be jeopardised if we do not quickly fill the gap created by their Lordships' judgment". | And he added: "Such cases could be jeopardised if we do not quickly fill the gap created by their Lordships' judgment". |
| He said there would be an open meeting for MPs and peers to discuss the proposed measures, which he said were temporary and would be replaced by a law reform bill scheduled for next year. | He said there would be an open meeting for MPs and peers to discuss the proposed measures, which he said were temporary and would be replaced by a law reform bill scheduled for next year. |
| 'Constructive' | 'Constructive' |
| He told MPs that witness intimidation had become "an all too common feature in crimes of a serious nature, especially those involving guns, gangs or drugs". | He told MPs that witness intimidation had become "an all too common feature in crimes of a serious nature, especially those involving guns, gangs or drugs". |
| He said "careful and proportionate" measures on anonymity had been developed in response but these had now been challenged by the law lords. | He said "careful and proportionate" measures on anonymity had been developed in response but these had now been challenged by the law lords. |
| The measures now being proposed meant "the trial judge will have to be satisfied that the need for anonymity is established; that a fair trial will be possible and that it is in the interests of justice to make such an order". | The measures now being proposed meant "the trial judge will have to be satisfied that the need for anonymity is established; that a fair trial will be possible and that it is in the interests of justice to make such an order". |
| For the Conservatives Nick Herbert agreed there was a need to act and said they would be "constructive" over the Bill's passage. | For the Conservatives Nick Herbert agreed there was a need to act and said they would be "constructive" over the Bill's passage. |
| He warned that the history of emergency legislation was "not a happy one". | He warned that the history of emergency legislation was "not a happy one". |