Section 103: Evidence of persons under 14 in committal proceedings for assault, sexual offences etc.

Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 · 1980 c.43

Part IV: Witnesses and Evidence

103(1)

In any proceedings before a magistrates' court inquiring as examining justices into an offence to which this section applies, a statement made in writing by or taken in writing from a child shall be admissible in evidence of any matter.

103(2)

This section applies—

(a) to an offence which involves an assault, or injury or a threat of injury to, a person;

(b) to an offence under section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (cruelty to persons under 16);

(c) to an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, . . . the Protection of Children Act 1978 or Part 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 ; and

(d) to an offence which consists of attempting or conspiring to commit, or of aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting the commission of, an offence falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above.

103(3)

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103(4)

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103(5)

In this section "child" has the same meaning as in section 53 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.