Baroness Hale says women in veils should remove them when giving evidence in court

[EC]

Britain’s most senior female judge has said that women in veils should be compelled to show their faces when giving evidence in court.

Baroness Hale, deputy president of the Supreme Court, told the Evening Standard that ways have "got to be found" to ensure that face coverings are removed for key parts of court hearings. She added that there "must come a point" at which judges insist veils are lifted.

She said that seeing faces could be "important" and "necessary" when women were testifying and on other occasions, such as when the issue of identity was at stake.

Last year Rebekah Dawson refused to remove her niqab during her trial for witness intimidation. The judge in the case told Dawson — later jailed for six months after pleading guilty — that she would have to show her face if giving evidence.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/baroness-hale-says-women-in-veils-should-remove-them-when-giving-evidence-in-court-9920606.html

[EC]

Dumb. We already have a mechanism for this - remote video testimony, same as for child witnesses. Set it up that only the judge can see the witness' face.