NCJ Number
78387
Date Published
1979
Length
210 pages
Annotation
This report from the British Law Commission deals with offenses relating to interference with the course of justice, including perjury, and proposes recommendations for the reform and codification of the law in this field.
Abstract
The commission recommends that the definition of perjury as any false statement should include (1) oral evidence given on oath in or for the purposes of judicial proceedings, (2) any affidavit or statutory declaration or in a certificate made for the purposes of judicial proceedings and admissible in those proceedings, (3) giving evidence in pursuance of an order under the 1975 Evidence Act, and (4) sworn evidence before the Court of Justice of the European Communities. Codification and reform is also recommended for offenses relating to civil and criminal proceedings, such as fabricating or tampering with evidence, offenses in relation to members of a court, and publishing matter with intent to pervert justice; offenses relating to criminal proceedings and investigation, false statements to the police and impersonating a defendant; corroboration: territorial jurisdiction; and abolitions, repeals, and amendments. A section is also devoted to recommendations for proceedings and penalties with reference to the offenses discussed. A draft bill to enact the recommendations is appended.