Armed Forces Act 2006

101 Extension by judge advocate of custody without charge

(1) If, on an application by the commanding officer of a person arrested under section 67, a judge advocate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the continued keeping of that person in service custody is justified, the judge advocate may by order authorise the keeping of that person in service custody.

(2) A judge advocate may not hear an application under this section unless the person to whom it relates—

(a) has been informed in writing of the grounds for the application; and

(b) has been brought before him for the hearing.

(3) The person to whom the application relates is entitled to be legally represented at the hearing and, if he is not so represented but wishes to be so represented—

(a) the judge advocate must adjourn the hearing to enable him to obtain representation; and

(b) he may be kept in service custody during the adjournment.

(4) The period for which a judge advocate, on an application under this section, may authorise the keeping of a person in service custody is such period, ending not more than 96 hours after the arrest, as he considers appropriate having regard to the evidence before him.

(5) Where a person, while kept in service custody without being charged with a service offence, is arrested under section 67 for another service offence, the reference in subsection (4) to the arrest is to be read as a reference to the arrest for the service offence for which he was originally arrested.

(6) For the purposes of this section and section 102, the continued keeping of a person in service custody is justified only if—

(a) keeping him in custody without being charged with a service offence is necessary to secure or preserve evidence relating to a service offence for which he is under arrest or to obtain such evidence by questioning him; and

(b) the investigation is being conducted diligently and expeditiously.