Rules of evidence

Introduction

1. This section will assist you in understanding the legal rules that have to be met in order for evidence to be admissible before a criminal court. It will focus on the rules of evidence in a criminal trial. However the same evidential issues are also relevant when you are:

• considering whether there should be a prosecution.
  There must be sufficient admissible evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction before a prosecution can be undertaken;
• preparing cases for prosecution.
  You must consider whether there may be evidential difficulties at all stages of the process, and whether additional evidence may be required.