Hearing the Evidence

The Committee will consider all available evidence either by hearing verbal representations and/or considering written submissions. Sometimes the chair might direct that submissions will not be heard if, for example, the statements are repetitive, or the legal adviser rules that the evidence is not relevant.
Evidence is not given on oath but the Committee are entitled to expect that all persons will conduct themselves respectfully and will be honest. The Committee are not seeking to undermine or determine the absolute 'rights or wrongs' of individual submissions, but are working on the "balance of probabilities" when assessing the weight of evidence they will attach to individual submissions. Licence holders or applicants may want their adviser to 'lead them through the relevant facts when presenting a case. There may be occasions where hearsay evidence is permitted (subject to legal advice).
Evidence will be given in public unless a particular item is considered to be 'exempt or confidential' whereby the press and public will be excluded from the hearing. This normally applies to disciplinary cases which by nature contain sensitive and/or confidential information.
Photographic, taped or video recorded evidence may be given with the permission of the chair and provided that advance notification is given to the committee administrator or Licensing Officer.
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