21.1Some procedural concerns with the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1992 (MACMA) have been raised with us. The first issue relates to the use of new technology, such as video links, in the provision of evidence in MACMA. Essentially, it is not clear under MACMA whether new technology can be used in taking evidence pursuant to the Act. It has been suggested that this ought to be expressly clarified. The other two issues relate to procedures currently not provided for in MACMA: a process for dealing with urgent requests and a process for contributing to the costs of undertaking a request. We have been asked to consider whether MACMA ought to contain such procedures.
21.2Each of these three issues will be considered in this chapter. We also encourage comments on other procedural or compliance issues.
