Navigating Section 41 Applications - Admissibility of Previous Sexual History in Criminal Trials

Introduction

Are you making the most of Section 41 applications in your cases?

This webinar provides a deep dive into the use of Section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 — a critical tool that determines the admissibility of previous sexual behaviour by a complainant in trials concerning sexual offences.

It is crucial that criminal practitioners understand the law and procedure behind such applications which can radically affect the landscape of a sexual offence trial.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Section 41 YCJEA 1999
• The Law
• Procedure
• Gateways to admissibility
• A relevant issue other than consent
• Consent and contemporaneity
• Consent and similarity
• The rebuttal gateway
• Restrictions
• The intersection between section 100 Criminal Justice Act 2003 (non defendant bad character) and section 41 where complainants have made previous allegations of sexual offending
• A consideration of the statistics and practical realities of making a section 41 application

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Friday 21st August 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,300+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.