Evidence of Bad Character in Criminal ... - Law Commission

Criminal Evidence Bill 11
(2) The rules referred to in subsection (1) include any rule under which, as an
exception to the inadmissibility of hearsay evidence, evidence of a person’s
reputation is admissible for the purpose of proving his character, but only so
far as the rule relates to evidence of bad character.
(3) The following cease to have effect—
(a) section 1(3) of the Criminal Evidence Act 1898 (c. 36) (which makes
provision as to the questions that a defendant may be asked about his
bad character in cross-examination);
(b) section 27(3) of the Theft Act 1968 (c. 60) (admission of evidence of
previous convictions for theft etc to prove that defendant knew goods
to be stolen).
(4) The enactments specified in Schedule 2 are repealed to the extent specified.
21 Citation, commencement and extent
(1) This Act may be cited as the Criminal Evidence Act 2001.
(2) This Act comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint by
order made by statutory instrument; and different days may be appointed for
different purposes.
(3) No provision of this Act applies in relation to a hearing begun before the day
appointed for the purposes of that provision under subsection (2).
(4) An order under subsection (2) may include such supplementary, incidental or
consequential provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or
expedient.
(5) This Act, except section 18 and Schedule 1, extends to England and Wales only.
(6) Section 18 and Schedule 1, so far as relating to proceedings before a particular
service court, have the same extent as the Act under which the court is
constituted.
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