76Specific provisions relating to witnesses

76 Specific provisions relating to witnesses

(1) At any time during a hearing, if the investigating panel becomes aware that a witness is under the age of 16 years, the investigating panel must immediately release the person from compliance with any witness summons applying to that person.

(2) If a witness does not have knowledge of the English language that is sufficient to enable the witness to understand questions asked of the witness or to answer those questions the investigating panel must provide for a competent interpreter to be present during the hearing of the witness.

(3) An investigating panel must direct that an independent person, or a parent or guardian, be present during the hearing of a witness if—

(a) the investigating panel believes the witness has a mental impairment; or

(b) the witness provides the investigating panel with reasonably satisfactory medical evidence that the witness has a mental impairment; or

(c) the witness is 16 or 17 years of age.