Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017

Amendment of section 4 of Bail Act 1997

32. Section 4 of the Bail Act 1997 is amended—

(a) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2):

“(2A) Subsection (2) is without prejudice to the right of—

(a) a parent, relative or friend of a person in respect of whom the offence is alleged to have been committed (in this subsection referred to as ‘the relevant person’), or

(b) a support worker chosen by the relevant person,

to remain in court, where the relevant person gives evidence pursuant to section 9A, for the duration of such evidence.”.

(b) in subsection (5), by the insertion of the following definition:

“ ‘support worker’ means a volunteer of, or an individual employed under a contract of service or under a contract for services by, an organisation which provides support to victims of crime.”.