Section 73: Jurors engaging in other prohibited conduct
545.Section 73 inserts new section 20C into the Juries Act 1974, which makes it an offence for a member of a jury trying a case before a court intentionally to engage in “prohibited conduct” during the trial period. Prohibited conduct is defined as conduct from which it may be reasonably concluded that the person intends to try the issue otherwise than on the basis of the evidence presented in the proceedings on the issue.
546.It does not matter whether or not the person knows the conduct is prohibited conduct. Subsections (4) and (5) of new section 20C set out the circumstances in which an offence is not committed under this section.
547.Subsections (6) and (7) of new section 20C set out the penalty for an offence under this section (imprisonment for up to 2 years or a fine or both) and provide that proceedings for such an offence can only be instituted by or with the consent of the Attorney General.
548.Paragraph 5 of Schedule 13 (introduced by section 75) replicates this offence for members of the jury during an inquest by inserting new paragraph 5C into Part 1 of Schedule 6 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.