Source: https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part32/pd_part32
Timestamp: 2017-02-19 11:54:54
Document Index: 771190491

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 32', 'ART 32', 'art 32', 'art 34', 'art 81', 'art 22', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 23', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'ART 32']

CourtsProcedure rulesCivilRules & Practice DirectionsPART 32 - EVIDENCE PRACTICE DIRECTION 32 – EVIDENCE
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This Practice Direction supplements CPR Part 32
1.1 Rule 32.2 sets out how evidence is to be given and facts are to be proved. 1.2 Evidence at a hearing other than the trial should normally be given by witness statement1 (see paragraph 17 onwards). However a witness may give evidence by affidavit if he wishes to do so2 (and see paragraph 1.4 below).
1.3 Statements of case (see paragraph 26 onwards) and application notices3 may also be used as evidence provided that their contents have been verified by a statement of truth4.
(For information regarding evidence by deposition see Part 34 and Practice Direction 34A.)
1.4 Affidavits must be used as evidence in the following instances:
(1) where sworn evidence is required by an enactment5, rule, order or practice direction, and
(2) in any application for a search order, a freezing injunction, or an order requiring an occupier to permit another to enter his land.
(Part 81 - Applications and proceedings in relation to contempt of court, and the Practice Direction accompanying that Part, contain provisions about evidence in relation to contempt of court. Particular attention is drawn to rules 81.10, 81.11, 81.14, 81.15, 81.26 and Practice Direction 81 paragraphs 4.5 and 14.1.)3 in any application for an order against anyone for alleged contempt of court.
1.5 If a party believes that sworn evidence is required by a court in another jurisdiction for any purpose connected with the proceedings, he may apply to the court for a direction that evidence shall be given only by affidavit on any pre-trial applications.
1.6 The court may give a direction under rule 32.15 that evidence shall be given by affidavit instead of or in addition to a witness statement or statement of case: (1) on its own initiative, or
1.7 An affidavit, where referred to in the Civil Procedure Rules or a practice direction, also means an affirmation unless the context requires otherwise.
2 A deponent is a person who gives evidence by affidavit or affirmation.
3.1 The affidavit should be headed with the title of the proceedings (see paragraph 4 of Practice Direction 7A and paragraph 7 of Practice Direction 20); where the proceedings are between several parties with the same status it is sufficient to identify the parties as follows:
A.B. (and others)
C.D. (and others)
3.2 At the top right hand corner of the first page (and on the backsheet) there should be clearly written: (1) the party on whose behalf it is made,
(2) the initials and surname of the deponent,
(3) the number of the affidavit in relation to that deponent,
4.1 The affidavit must, if practicable, be in the deponent’s own words, the affidavit should be expressed in the first person and the deponent should:
(1) commence ‘I (full name) of (address) state on oath ……’,
(2) if giving evidence in his professional, business or other occupational capacity, give the address at which he works in (1) above, the position he holds and the name of his firm or employer,
(3) give his occupation or, if he has none, his description, and
4.2 An affidavit must indicate:
4.3 Where a deponent:
5.1 The jurat of an affidavit is a statement set out at the end of the document which authenticates the affidavit.
5.2 It must:
(1) be signed by all deponents,
(2) be completed and signed by the person before whom the affidavit was sworn whose name and qualification must be printed beneath his signature,
(3) contain the full address of the person before whom the affidavit was sworn, and
6.1 An affidavit should:
(3) where possible, be bound securely in a manner which would not hamper filing, or otherwise each page should be endorsed with the case number and should bear the initials of the deponent and of the person before whom it was sworn,
(4) have the pages numbered consecutively as a separate document (or as one of several documents contained in a file),
(7) give the reference to any document or documents mentioned either in the margin or in bold text in the body of the affidavit.
6.2 It is usually convenient for an affidavit to follow the chronological sequence of events or matters dealt with; each paragraph of an affidavit should as far as possible be confined to a distinct portion of the subject.
7.1 Where an affidavit is sworn by a person who is unable to read or sign it, the person before whom the affidavit is sworn must certify in the jurat that:
(1) he read the affidavit to the deponent,
(2) the deponent appeared to understand it, and
(3) the deponent signed or made his mark, in his presence.
7.2 If that certificate is not included in the jurat, the affidavit may not be used in evidence unless the court is satisfied that it was read to the deponent and that he appeared to understand it. Two versions of the form of jurat with the certificate are set out at Annex 1 to this practice direction.
8.1 Any alteration to an affidavit must be initialled by both the deponent and the person before whom the affidavit was sworn.
8.2 An affidavit which contains an alteration that has not been initialled may be filed or used in evidence only with the permission of the court.
9.1 Only the following may administer oaths and take affidavits –
(1) a commissioner for oaths6;
(3) other persons specified by statute7;
(4) certain officials of the Senior Courts8;
(5) a circuit judge or district judge9;
(6) any justice of the peace10; and
(7) certain officials of any county court appointed by the judge of that court for the purpose11.
9.2 An affidavit must be sworn before a person independent of the parties or their representatives.
10.1 If the court directs that an affidavit is to be filed12, it must be filed in the court or Division, or Office or Registry of the court or Division where the action in which it was or is to be used, is proceeding or will proceed.
10.2 Where an affidavit is in a foreign language:
(1) the party wishing to rely on it –
(a) must have it translated, and
(b) must file the foreign language affidavit with the court, and
(2) the translator must make and file with the court an affidavit verifying the translation and exhibiting both the translation and a copy of the foreign language affidavit.
16 All provisions in this or any other practice direction relating to affidavits apply to affirmations with the following exceptions: (1) the deponent should commence ‘I (name) of (address) do solemnly and sincerely affirm ……’, and
23.2 Where the court has directed that a witness statement in a foreign language is to be filed:
24.1 Where the court has ordered that a witness statement is not to be open to inspection by the public15 or that words or passages in the statement are not to be open to inspection16 the court officer will so certify on the statement and make any deletions directed by the court under rule 32.13(4).
25.2 Permission to file a defective affidavit or witness statement or to use a defective exhibit may be obtained from a judge17 in the court where the case is proceeding.
(For information regarding statements of truth see Part 22 and Practice Direction 22.)
(Practice Directions 7A and 17 provide further information concerning statements of case.)
27.1 The court may give directions requiring the parties to use their best endeavours to agree a bundle or bundles of documents for use at any hearing. 27.2 All documents contained in bundles which have been agreed for use at a hearing shall be admissible at that hearing as evidence of their contents, unless –
28 28.1 1 Where a party alleges that a statement of truth or a disclosure statement is false the party must refer that allegation to the court dealing with the claim in which the statement of truth or disclosure statement has been made. 2 The court may – a excercise any of its powers under the rules; b initiate steps to consider if there is a contempt of court and, where there is, to punish it; (Practice Direction RSC 52 and CCR 29 makes provision where committal to prison is a possibility if contempt is proved) c direct the party making the allegation to refer the matter to the Attorney General with a request that the Attorney General consider whether to bring proceedings for contempt of court. 28.2 1 A request to the Attorney General must be made in writing and sent to the Attorney General’s Office at 20 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0NF. The request must be accompanied by a copy of the order directing that the matter be referred to the Attorney General and must – a identify thestatement said to be false; b explain – i why it is false; and ii why the maker knew the statement to be false at the time it was made; and c explain why contempt proceedings would be appropriate in the light of the overriding objective in Part 1. 2 The Attorney General prefers a request that comes from the court to one made direct by a party to the claim in which the alleged contempt occurred without prior consideration by the court. A request to the Attorney General is not a way of appealing against, or reviewing the decision of the judge. 28.3 Where a party makes an application to the court for permission to commence proceedings for contempt of court, it must be supported by written evidence of the facts and matters specified in paragraph 28.2(1) and the result of the request to the Attorney General made by the applicant. 28.4 The rules do not change the law of contempt or introduce new categories of contempt. A person applying to commence such proceedings should consider whether the incident complainedof does amount to contempt of court and whether such proceedings would further the overriding objective in Part 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
29.1 Guidance on the use of video conferencing in the civil courts is set out at Annex 3 to this practice direction.
A list of the sites which are available for video conferencing can be found on Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service website.
Certificate to be used where a deponent to an affidavit is unable to read or sign it
Sworn at ……… this …… day of ……… Before me, I having first read over the contents of this affidavit to the deponent [if there are exhibits, add ‘and explained the nature and effect of the exhibits referred to in it’] who appeared to understand it and approved its content as accurate, and made his mark on the affidavit in my presence.
Or; (after, Before me) the witness to the mark of the deponent having been first sworn that he had read over etc. (as above) and that he saw him make his mark on the affidavit. (Witness must sign).
Certificate to be used where a deponent to an affirmation is unable to read or sign it
Affirmed at ……… this …… day of ……… Before me, I having first read over the contents of this affirmation to the deponent [if there are exhibits,add ‘and explained the nature and effect of the exhibits referred to in it’] who appeared to understand it and approved its content as accurate, and made his mark on the affirmation in my presence.
Or, (after, Before me) the witness to the mark of the deponent having been first sworn that he had read over etc. (as above) and that he saw him make his mark on the affirmation. (Witness must sign).
8. The court's permission is required for any part of any proceedings to be dealt with by means of VCF. Before seeking a direction, the applicant should notify the listing officer, diary manager or other appropriate court officer of the intention to seek it, and should enquire as to the availability of court VCF equipment for the day or days of the proposed VCF. The application for a direction should be made to the Master, District Judge or Judge, as may be appropriate. If all parties consent to a direction, permission can be sought by letter, fax or e-mail, although the court may still require an oral hearing. All parties are entitled to be heard on whether or not such a direction should be given and as to its terms. If a witness at a remote site is to give evidence by an interpreter, consideration should be given at this stage as to whether the interpreter should be at the local site or the remote site. If a VCF direction is given, arrangements for the transmission will then need tobe made. The court will ordinarily direct that the party seeking permission to use VCF is to be responsible for this. That party is hereafter referred to as ‘the VCF arranging party’.
12. If the local site is not a courtroom, but a conference room or studio, the judge will need to determine who is to sit where. The VCF arranging party must take care to ensure that the number of microphones is adequate for the speakers and that the panning of the camera for the practitioners' table encompasses all legal representatives so that the viewer can see everyone seated there.
14. In cases where the local site is a studio or conference room, the VCF arranging party should make arrangements, if practicable, for the royal coat of arms to be placed above the judge's seat.
18. Additional documents are sometimes quite properly introduced during the course of a witness's evidence. To cater for this, the VCF arranging party should ensure that equipment is available to enable documents to be transmitted between sites during the course of the VCF transmission. Consideration should be given to whether to use a document camera. If it is decided to use one, arrangements for its use will need to be established in advance. The panel operator will need to know the number and size of documents or objects if their images are to be sent by document camera. In many cases, a simpler and sufficient alternative will be to ensure that there are fax transmission and reception facilities at the participating sites.
21. The examination of the witness at the remote site should follow as closely as possible the practice adopted when a witness is in the courtroom. During examination, cross-examination and re-examination, the witness must be able to see the legal representative asking the question and also any other person (whether another legal representative or the judge) making any statements in regard to the witness's evidence. It will in practice be most convenient if everyone remains seated throughout the transmission.
See rule 32.6(1). Back to text
See rule 32.15(2). Back to text
See Part 23 for information about making an application. Back to text
Rule 32.6(2) and see Part 22 for information about the statement of truth. Back to text
See, e.g., s.3(5)(a) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Back to text
Commissioner for Oaths Act 1889 and 1891. Back to text
Sections 12 and 18 of, and Schedules 2 and 4 to, the Legal Services Act 2007. Back to text
Section 2 of the Commissioners for Oaths Act 1889. Back to text
Section 58 of the County Courts Act 1984. Back to text
Section 58 as above. Back to text
Rules 32.1(3) and 32.4(3)(b). Back to text
See Part 22 for information about the statement of truth. Back to text
Rule 32.4(3)(b). Back to text
Rule 32.13(2). Back to text
Rule 32.13(4). Back to text
Rule 2.3(1); definition of judge. Back to text
See rule 32.6(2)(a). Back to text
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