MORE RULE CHANGES IN APRIL: CHANGES TO THE STATEMENT OF TRUTH: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED…
We are returning to the 113th update to Practice Direction Amendments. This introduces important changes to to the wording of the statement of truth. (Coming into force from the 6th April 2020).
THE AMENDMENT
The amendment makes changes to the wording of the statement of truth at Practice Direction 22. (The amendment also makes changes to witness statements in foreign languages which will be looked at in a later post).
1) In paragraph 2.1, in the wording of the statement of truth, at the end insert “I
understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against
anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document
verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.”.
2) In paragraph 2.2—
a) after “as follows” insert “(and provided in the language of the witness
statement)”; and
b) in the wording of the statement of truth, at the end insert “I understand that
proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who
makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a
statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.”.
PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER
As ever this makes more sense if I add the new rules to the existing rules.
Form of the statement of truth
2.1 The form of the statement of truth verifying a statement of case, a response, an application notice or a notice of objections should be as follows:
‘[I believe][the (claimant or as may be) believes] that the facts stated in this [name document being verified] are true.I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.”.
2.2 The form of the statement of truth verifying a witness statement should be as follows:
‘I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.”.
OTHER AMENDMENTS
There are two new requirements in relation to the statement of truth added to PD 22.2
