Armed Forces Act 2006

General U.K.

255 Individual sentence for each offence U.K.

Where the Court Martial or the Service Civilian Court convicts a person, the court must pass a separate sentence in respect of each offence of which he is convicted.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 255 modified (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Court Martial) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/2041), art. 1, rule 161(2)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 255 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I2 S. 255 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

256 Pre-sentence reports U.K.

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a court must obtain and consider a pre-sentence report before—

(a) forming any such opinion as is mentioned in—

• section 242(1) or 243(2) (service detention);

• section 260(2) or 261(2) (custodial sentence); or

• section 265(1) (dismissal or dismissal with disgrace);

(b) forming any such opinion as is mentioned in section 270(1) or (2)(b) (community punishment) or any opinion as to the suitability for the offender of the particular requirement or requirements to be included in a community punishment; or

(c) forming the required opinion for the purposes of [F1 section 219(1), [F2 219A(1)], 221(1) or [F3 221A(1)] (sentences for dangerous offenders).]

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if, in the circumstances of the case, the court is of the opinion that it is unnecessary to obtain a pre-sentence report.

(3) Where the offender is aged under 18, the court must not form the opinion mentioned in subsection (2) unless—

(a) there exists a previous pre-sentence report obtained in respect of the offender; and

(b) the court has had regard to the information contained in that report, or, if there is more than one such report, the most recent report.

(4) No sentence is invalidated by a failure of a court to obtain and consider a pre-sentence report before doing any of the things mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1).

(5) However, any court on appeal against a custodial sentence in respect of a service offence, a sentence of dismissal or dismissal with disgrace, a sentence of service detention or a community punishment—

(a) must (subject to subsection (6)) obtain a pre-sentence report if none was obtained by the court below; and

(b) must consider any such report obtained by it or by that court.

(6) Subsection (5)(a) does not apply if the court is of the opinion—

(a) that the court below was justified in forming an opinion that it was unnecessary to obtain a pre-sentence report; or

(b) that, although the court below was not justified in forming that opinion, in the circumstances of the case at the time it is before the court it is unnecessary to obtain a pre-sentence report.

(7) Where the offender is aged under 18, the court must not form the opinion mentioned in subsection (6) unless—

(a) there exists a previous pre-sentence report obtained in respect of the offender; and

(b) the court has had regard to the information contained in that report or, if there is more than one such report, the most recent report.

(8) Subsections (5) to (7) do not apply to the Summary Appeal Court on an appeal to it.

(9) Subsections (1) to (4) do apply to the Summary Appeal Court in relation to a sentence of service detention, but as if the opinions referred to in subsection (1)(a) were any such opinion as is mentioned in section 242(4) or 243(3).

[F4 (10) The reference in subsection (1)(a) to a court forming any such opinion as is mentioned in section 260(2) or 261(2) includes a court forming such an opinion for the purposes of section 218A(4).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 256(1)(c) substituted (31.10.2009) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), s. 153(7), Sch. 25 para. 20; S.I. 2009/1028, art. 2(b)

F2 Word in s. 256(1)(c) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 22 para. 33(2)(a); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(t)

F3 Word in s. 256(1)(c) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 22 para. 33(2)(b); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(t)

F4 S. 256(10) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 22 para. 33(3); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(t)

Commencement Information

I3 S. 256 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I4 S. 256 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

257 Pre-sentence reports: supplementary U.K.

(1) In section 256 and this section “pre-sentence report” has the meaning given by [F5 section 31(1) of the Sentencing Code].

(2) In [F6 section 31(1) of that Code] as applied by this section, “an appropriate officer” includes any registered social worker (as well as any person who is an appropriate officer within the meaning given by [F7 section 31(2) of that Code]).

(3) In this section “registered social worker” means a person registered as a social worker in a register maintained by—

[F8 (a) Social Work England;]

(b) the Care Council for Wales;

(c) the Scottish Social Services Council; or

(d) the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

(4) [F9 Section 32(1) to (4) and (6) of the Sentencing Code] (disclosure of reports) apply in relation to a pre-sentence report obtained by a court for the purposes of section 256 of this Act as they apply in relation to a report obtained by a court for the purposes of [F10 section 30 of that Code].

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in s. 257(1) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 25 para. 57(a) (with s. 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F6 Words in s. 257(2) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 25 para. 57(b)(i) (with s. 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F7 Words in s. 257(2) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 25 para. 57(b)(ii) (with s. 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F8 S. 257(3)(a) substituted (2.12.2019) by Children and Social Work Act 2017 (c. 16), s. 70(2), Sch. 5 para. 32; S.I. 2019/1436, reg. 2(s)

F9 Words in s. 257(4) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 25 para. 57(c)(i) (with s. 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F10 Words in s. 257(4) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 25 para. 57(c)(ii) (with s. 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Commencement Information

I5 S. 257 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I6 S. 257 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

258 Mentally disordered offenders: requirement for medical report U.K.

(1) Subject to subsection (2), before passing a custodial sentence for a service offence on an offender who is or appears to be mentally disordered, a court must obtain and consider a medical report.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if, in the circumstances of the case, the court is of the opinion that it is unnecessary to obtain a medical report.

(3) Before passing a custodial sentence for a service offence on an offender who is or appears to be mentally disordered, a court must consider—

(a) any information before it which relates to his mental condition (whether given in a medical report, a pre-sentence report or otherwise); and

(b) the likely effect of such a sentence on that condition and on any treatment which may be available for it.

(4) No custodial sentence which is passed in a case to which subsection (1) applies is invalidated by a failure of a court to comply with that subsection, but any court on an appeal against such a sentence—

(a) must obtain a medical report if none was obtained by the court below; and

(b) must consider any such report obtained by it or by that court.

(5) In this section—

• “custodial sentence” does not include a custodial sentence fixed by law;

• “medical report” means a report as to an offender's mental condition made or submitted orally or in writing by a registered medical practitioner who is approved for the purposes of section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20) by the Secretary of State [F11 , or by another person by virtue of section 12ZA or 12ZB of that Act,] as having special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder.

(6) Nothing in this section is to be taken to limit the generality of—

• section 256 (pre-sentence reports); or

• section 260(4) (information to be taken into account).

Textual Amendments

F11 Words in s. 258(5) inserted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 38(5)(f), 306(4); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

Commencement Information

I7 S. 258 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I8 S. 258 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

259 Sentencing guidelines U.K.

(1) A court must—

(a) in sentencing an offender for a service offence, have regard to any guidelines that are relevant to the offender's case; and

(b) in exercising any other function relating to the sentencing of offenders for service offences, have regard to any guidelines which are relevant to the exercise of the function.

(2) However, the court may depart from the guidelines mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b) if in its opinion the departure is justified by any features of service life or of the service disciplinary system that are relevant to the case.

(3) Subsection (2) does not limit any power existing apart from that subsection to depart from guidelines.

(4) References in subsection (1)(a) and (b) to sentencing an offender for a service offence include making any order when dealing with an offender in respect of such an offence.

[F12 (5) In this section “guidelines” means sentencing guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales under section 120 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 as definitive guidelines, as revised by any subsequent guidelines so issued.]

Textual Amendments

F12 S. 259(5) substituted (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 89 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. para. 20(b)

Commencement Information

I9 S. 259 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I10 S. 259 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4