The Criminal Justice Act 1991 says a video can replace a child's evidence in a criminal court. Such a recording can spare the child from having to recount evidence to the court in person and can provide a highly valuable, early record of the child's account.
The main purpose of this memorandum is to help those making a video recording of an interview with a child witness where it is intended that the result should be acceptable in criminal proceedings.
The memorandum gives general advice on when and where to make the video; legal conditions; what should be done before the interview; protocol for interviewing children; legal rules which should be observed in order to produce an evidentially acceptable video recording; and arrangements for proper storage, custody and disposal of tapes.