(1)  Subject to subsection (2) and to the Admission to Courts Act 1916 , and the regulations thereunder, the room or place in which justices sit to hear and determine a complaint upon which a conviction or order may be made, is an open and public court, to which all persons may have access so far as it can conveniently contain them.

(2)  The justices may, if they think fit, and shall, if required by a party, at any time during the hearing, order that all witnesses, other than the complainant and the defendant, and the witness under examination, except in so far as in particular cases and for special circumstances they see fit otherwise so to do, shall go and remain outside, and beyond the hearing of the court until required to give evidence.

(3)  If a witness wilfully disobeys an order under subsection (2) , he shall be deemed guilty of a contempt of court, and may be punished as provided in section 25 .

(4)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .