Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Act 2008

This Bill would abolish the common law rules relating to anonymity orders for witnesses in criminal trials and replace them with statutory powers. <br><br>This is in response to the judgment of the House of Lords, on 18 June 2008, in R v Davis, in which it was held that the measures ordered by the court to ensure the anonymity of some witnesses had been beyond its jurisdiction.<br><br>The Bill has been introduced as an emergency measure because the judgment is likely to affect a number of ongoing prosecutions in which similar anonymity measures have been ordered, as well as convictions resulting from trials in which witnesses have given evidence anonymously.