Details

Vereinigtes Königreich - Zentrale Behörde (Art. 2) und praktische Information

Central Authority(ies):

Senior Master, Foreign Process Section, Royal Courts of Justice

 

Contact details:
Address:

England and Wales:
The Senior Master
For the attention of the Foreign Process Section
Room E16
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
LONDON WC2A 2LL

Scotland:
Scottish Government Justice Directorate
Central Authority & International Law Team
St. Andrew's House (GW15)
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG 

Northern Ireland:
The Master Royal Courts of Justice
Queen’s Bench and Appeals
Chichester Street
BELFAST BT1 3JF
Telephone:

England and Wales:
+44 207 947 7772 (option 2)

Scotland:
+44 131 244 0460 

Northern Ireland:
+44 28 9072 4639
Fax:  
E-mail:

England and Wales:
foreignprocess.rcj@justice.gov.uk

Scotland:
Angela.lindsay@gov.scot 

Northern Ireland:
frontofhousercj@courtsni.gov.uk
General website: Ministry of Justice
Contact person:

England and Wales:
The Senior Master

Scotland:
Angela Lindsay

Northern Ireland:
The Master
Languages spoken by staff: English

 

Practical Information
Blocking statutes:

Yes, please see:
Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975.

Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980

Chapter I
(Letters of Requests)
Transmission of Letters of Requests: Letters of Request are sent directly from a judicial authority in the requesting State to the Central Authority of the requested State to the Central Authority of the requested State.
Authority responsible for informing of the time and place of the execution of Letter of Request
(Art. 7):		 Central Authority
Presence of judicial personnel at the execution of the Letter of Request (Art. 8): Declaration of applicability
Privileges and duties existing under the law of States other than the State of origin and the State of execution
(Art. 11):		 No declaration of applicability.
Translation requirements
Arts 4(2) and 33):		 The UK does not accept Letters of Requests written in French.
Costs relating to execution of the Letters of Request
(Arts 14(2)(3) and 26):

The United Kingdom rarely seeks reimbursement of costs under Art. 14(2). An example of such a request is in respect of experts fees, to seek a payment on account.

There is currently no policy in the United Kingdom for seeking reimbursement of fees and costs, in connection with the execution of Letters of Request, for the service of process necessary to compel the appearance of a person to give evidence, the costs of attendance of such persons, or the costs of any transcript of the evidence (Art. 26).
Time for execution: For oral and documentary, the time taken to process a request is usually between 6 and 12 months.
Pre-trial discovery of documents
Art. 23):		 Letter of Request may be executed subject to certain conditions (qualified exclusion).
Information about domestic rules on the taking of evidence: 

Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975. 

England and Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Witness examination under Chapter I
Should Letters of Request include specific questions to be used during witness examination or only a list of matters to be addressed? Letters of Request should include specific questions.
Is it a public or private hearing? Private hearing.
Do the judicial authorities "blue-pencil" Letters of Requests (i.e. rephrase, restructure and / or strike out objectionable questions or offensive wording so that a Letter of Request may be executed under the laws of the requested State)? Yes.
Is the witness provided in advance with a copy of the questions / matters to be addressed as contained in the Letter of Request? Yes.
Are documents produced by the witness authenticated by the court? Yes.
Is an oath generally administered to the witness? Yes.
Can the witness be made subject to further examination and recall? Yes. First Request may be re-invoked.
Are there sanctions for non-appearance of witness? If a witness is ordered to attend, and such an order is endorsed with a penal notice, then if that witness fails to attend, they are in contempt of court, and may be fined or imprisoned as a result of their non-attendance.
Must interpreters who assist with the witness examination be court-certified? No.
How is the testimony transcribed? Audio recording.

Chapter II
(Taking of evidence by diplomatic officers, consular agents and commissioners)
Article 15 Applicable, no prior permissions required.
Article 16

Applicable, no prior permission required where reciprocal arrangements in place. 

Otherwise, see competent authority.
Article 17

Applicable, no prior permission required where reciprocal arrangements in place. 

Otherwise, see competent authority.
Article 18 Applicable, provided that the Contracting State whose diplomatic officer, consular agent or commissioner makes the application has made a declaration affording reciprocal facilities under Article 18. See competent authority.

Taking of evidence by video-links
(under either chapter)

Chapter I
Are there legal obstacles to the use of video links?  
Technology used:  
Level of interpretation required:  
Simultaneous or in sequence interpretation:  
Interpretation required in which jurisdiction?  
Who pays for the interpretation?  
How would a request for evidence be handled if witness not willing?  

Chapter II
Are there legal obstacles to the use of video links?  
Technology used:  
Level of interpretation required:  
Simultaneous or in sequence interpretation:  
Interpretation required in which jurisdiction?  
Who pays for the interpretation?  

Other Information
Bilateral or multilateral agreements To consult bilateral and multilateral treaties to which United Kingdom is a party, click here.
Useful links: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/34/contents
Competent authorities (Art. 17)

Scotland:
Court of Session
Parliament House
Parliament Square
Edinburgh, EH1 1RQ
Tel. No. 0131 225 2595
supreme.courts@scotcourts.gov.uk
Additional authorities (Art. 24)  

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