Army Act 1955 (repealed)

Part IIF274 U.K. Discipline and Trial and Punishment of Military Offences

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Part II extended by Reserve Forces Act 1980 (c. 9), s. 142

C2 Part II applied (1.6.1996 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by Armed Forces Act 1991 (c. 62, SIF 7:1), ss. 18(9)(a), 20(10)(a); S.I. 1996/1173, art. 2

Textual Amendments applied to the whole legislation

F274 Act: the provisions of the 1955 Acts providing for findings of courts-martial to be subject to confirmation and to revision at the direction of the confirming officer cease to have effect (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by virtue of 1996 c. 46, s. 15; S.I. 1997/304, arts. 2, 3, Sch. 2

Misconduct in action and other offences arising out of military serviceF274 U.K.

[F1 24 Misconduct in action. U.K.

(1) A person subject to military law shall be guilty of an offence against this section if, without lawfulexcuse, he—

(a) surrenders any place or thing to the enemy, or

(b) abandons any place or thing which it is his duty to defend against the enemy or to prevent from fallinginto the hands of the enemy.

(2) A person subject to military law shall be guilty of an offence against this section if, being in thepresence or vicinity of the enemy, or being engaged in any action or operation against the enemy or underorders to be prepared for any action or operation by or against the enemy, he—

(a) fails to use his utmost exertions to carry the lawful orders of his superior officers into execution,or

(b) while on guard duty and posted or ordered to patrol, or while on watch, sleeps or, without having beenregularly relieved, leaves any place where it is his duty to be, or

(c) behaves in such a manner as to show cowardice, or induces any other person so to behave at a time whenthat other person, being a member of Her Majesty’s forces or of a force co-operating with Her Majesty’sforces, is in the presence or vicinity of the enemy, or is engaged in any action or operation against theenemy or under orders to be prepared for any action or operation by or against the enemy, or

(d) uses words likely to cause despondency or unnecessary alarm.

(3) A person guilty of an offence against this section shall, on conviction by court-martial, beliable—

(a) if the offence consisted in an act or omission falling within subsection (1) or paragraph (a) ofsubsection (2) and was committed with intent to assist the enemy, to suffer death or any less punishmentprovided by this Act;

(b) in any other case, to imprisonment or any less punishment provided by this Act.

(4) The reference in subsection (2)(a) above to superior officers shall be construed in accordance withsection 33(2) of this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 24-26 substituted for ss. 24-28 by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 2(1), 78(4)

25 Assisting the enemy. U.K.

(1) A person subject to military law shall be guilty of an offence against this section if, knowingly andwithout lawful excuse, he—

(a) communicates with, or gives intelligence to, the enemy, or

(b) fails to make known to the proper authorities any information received by him from the enemy, or

(c) furnishes the enemy with supplies of any description, or

(d) having been captured by the enemy, serves with or aids the enemy in the prosecution of hostilities orof measures likely to influence morale, or in any other manner whatsoever not authorised by internationalusage, or

(e) having been captured by the enemy, fails to take, or prevents or discourages any other person subjectto service law who has been captured by the enemy from taking, any reasonable steps to rejoin Her Majesty’sservice which are available to him or, as the case may be, to that other person, or

(f) harbours or protects an enemy not being a prisoner of war.

(2) A person guilty of an offence against this section shall, on conviction by court-martial, beliable—

(a) if the offence consisted in an act or omission falling within paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (f) ofsubsection (1) and was committed with intent to assist the enemy, to suffer death or any less punishmentprovided by this Act,

(b) in any other case, to imprisonment or any less punishment provided by this Act.

26 Obstructing operations, giving false air signals, etc. U.K.

(1) A person subject to military law shall be guilty of an offence against this section if he does any actlikely to imperil the success of any action or operation on the part of any of Her Majesty’s forces, orwilfully delays or discourages upon any pretext whatsoever any such action or operation.

(2) A person subject to military law shall be guilty of an offence against this section if, knowingly andwithout lawful excuse, he gives any false air signal, or alters or interferes with any air signal or anyapparatus for giving an air signal.

(3) A person guilty of an offence against this section shall, on conviction by court-martial, beliable—

(a) if the offence was committed with intent to assist the enemy, to suffer death or any less punishmentprovided by this Act;

(b) in any other case, to imprisonment or any less punishment provided by this Act.

[F2 27 Prize offences by commanding officers. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who, being in command of any of Her Majesty’s ships oraircraft—

(a) having taken any ship or aircraft as prize, fails to send to the High Court, or to some other prizecourt having jurisdiction in the case, all the ship papers or aircraft papers, as the case may be, foundon board, or

(b) unlawfully makes any agreement for the ransoming of any ship, aircraft or goods taken as prize, or

(c) in pursuance of any such agreement as aforesaid, or otherwise by collusion, restores or abandons anyship, aircraft or goods taken as prize,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.

(2) In this section “prize court” means a prize court within the meaning of the M1 Naval PrizeAct 1864, and “ship papers” and “aircraft papers” have the same meanings as in that Act.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 27, 28 inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 3(1), 78(4)

Marginal Citations

M1 1864 c. 25.

28 Other prize offences. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who—

(a) F3 ill-treats any person who is on board a ship or aircraft when taken as prize,or unlawfully takes from any such person anything in his possession, or

(b) removes out of any ship or aircraft taken as prize (otherwise than for safe keeping or for the necessaryuse and service of any of Her Majesty’s forces or any forces co-operating therewith) any goods notpreviously adjudged by a prize court within the meaning of the M2 Naval Prize Act 1864 tobe lawful prize, or

(c) breaks bulk on board any ship or aircraft taken as prize, or detained in exercise of any belligerentright or under any enactment, with intent to steal anything therein,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), ss. 4(1), 16(2), Sch. 2

Marginal Citations

M2 1864 c. 25.

[F4 29 Offences by or in relation to sentries, persons on watch, etc. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who—

(a) while on guard duty and posted or ordered to patrol, or on watch, or under orders to regulate trafficby land, water or air, sleeps or, without having been regularly relieved, leaves any place where it is hisduty to be, or

(b) F5 uses force against a member of Her Majesty’s forces, or of any forcesco-operating therewith, who is on guard duty and posted or ordered to patrol, or on watch, or under ordersto regulate traffic by land, water or air, or

(c) by the threat of force compels any such person as is mentioned, leaves any place where it is his dutyto be, or

(d) in paragraph (b) above to let him or any other person pass,

shall be liable, on conviction by court-martial, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 29 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 4(1), 78(4)

F5 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), ss. 4(1), 16(2), Sch. 2

[F6 29A Failure to attend for duty, neglect of duty, etc. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who—

(a) without reasonable excuse fails to attend for any duty of any description, or leaves any such dutybefore he is permitted to do so, or

(b) neglects to perform, or negligently performs, any duty of any description,

shall be liable, on conviction by court-martial, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 29A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 5(1), 78(4)

30 Looting. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who—

(a) steals from, or with intent to steal searches, the person of anyone [F7 killed, wounded or captured in the course of warlike operations, or killed, injuredor detained in the course of operations undertaken by Her Majesty’s forces for the preservation of law andorder or otherwise in aid of the civil authorities], or

(b) steals any property which has been left exposed or unprotected in consequence of [F7 any such operations as are mentioned in paragraph (a) above], or

(c) takes otherwise than for the public service any vehicle, equipment or stores abandoned by the enemy,

shall be guilty of looting and liable, on conviction by court-martial, to imprisonment or any lesspunishment provided by this Act.

Textual Amendments

F7 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 6(1), 78(4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 30 extended (E.W.) (S.) by Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c. 53), s. 2(3)(a)

Mutiny and insubordinationF274 U.K.

31 Mutiny. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who—

(a) takes part in a mutiny F8 having as its object or one of its objects the refusal or avoidance of any dutyor service against, or in connection with operations against, the enemy, or the impeding of the performanceof any such duty or service, or

(b) incites any person subject to service law to take part in such a mutiny, whether actual or intended,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to suffer death or any other punishment provided bythis Act.

(2) Any person subject to military law who, in a case not falling within the last foregoing subsection,takes part in a mutiny, or incites any person subject to service law to take part in a mutiny, whetheractual or intended, shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment or any less punishmentprovided by this Act.

(3) In this Act the expression “mutiny” means a combination between two or more persons subject to service law, or betweenpersons two at least of whom are subject to service law—

(a) to overthrow or resist lawful authority in Her Majesty’s forces or any forces co-operating therewithor in any part of any of the said forces,

(b) to disobey such authority in such circumstances as to make the disobedience subversive of discipline,or with the object of avoiding any duty or service against, or in connection with operations against, theenemy, or

(c) to impede the performance of any duty or service in Her Majesty’s forces or in any forces co-operatingtherewith or in any part of any of the said forces;F8

Textual Amendments

F8 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I

32 Failure to suppress mutiny. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who, knowing that a mutiny is taking place or is intended,—

(a) fails to use his utmost endeavours to suppress or prevent it, or

(b) fails to report without delay that the mutiny is taking place or is intended,

shall on conviction by court-martial,—

(i) if his offence was committed with intent to assist the enemy, be liable to suffer death or any otherpunishment provided by this Act,

(ii) in any other case, be liable to imprisonment or any less punishment provided by this Act.

33 Insubordinate behaviour. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who—

(a) F9 uses violence to, or offers violence to, his superior officer, or

(b) uses threatening or insubordinate language to his superior officer,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment or any less punishment provided bythis Act:

[F10 Provided that it shall be a defence for any person charged under this subsection toprove that he neither knew nor had reasonable cause to believe that the person in relation to whom theoffence is alleged to have been committed was his superior officer.]

(2) In the foregoing provisions of this section the expression “superior officer”, in relation to any person, means an officer, warrant officer ornon-commissioned officer of the regular forces of superior rank, and includes an officer, warrant officeror non-commissioned officer of those forces of equal rank but greater seniority while exercising authorityas the said person’s superior.

Textual Amendments

F9 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), ss. 4(1), 16(2), Sch. 2

F10 Proviso substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 8(1), 78(4)

[F11 34 Disobedience to lawful commands. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who, whether wilfully or, through neglect, disobeys any lawfulcommand (by whatever means communicated to him) shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable toimprisonment or any less punishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F11 S. 34 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 8(2), 78(4)

Yn ddilys o 01/10/1996

[F12 34A Failure to provide a sample for drug testing. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who, when requested to do so by a drug testing officer, fails to provide a sample of his urine for testing for the presence of drugs shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or any less punishment provided by this Act.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

• “drug” means any drug which is a controlled drug for the purposes of the M3 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; and

• “drug testing officer” means an officer, warrant officer or non-commissioned officer who is authorised by or in accordance with Queen’s Regulations for the purpose of supervising the conduct of tests for the presence of drugs.]

Textual Amendments

F12 S. 34A inserted (1.10.1996 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 32(1); S.I. 1996/2474, art. 2 (with art. 3)

Marginal Citations

M3 1971 c. 38.

35 Obstruction of provost officers. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who—

(a) obstructs, or

(b) when called on, refuses to assist,

[F13 any provost officer, or any person] (whether subject to military law or not) legally exercising authority under or on behalf of a provostofficer, shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act:

[F14 Provided that it shall be a defence for any person charged under this section to provethat he neither knew nor had reasonable cause to believe that the person in relation to whom the offenceis alleged to have been committed was a provost officer or, as the case may be, a person legally exercisingauthority under or on behalf of a provost officer.]

Textual Amendments

F13 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 9(1)(a), 78(4)

F14 Proviso inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 9(1)(b), 78(4)

36 Disobedience to standing orders. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of orders towhich this section applies, being a provision known to him, or which he might reasonably be expected toknow, shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.

(2) This section applies to standing orders or other routine orders of a continuing nature made for anyformation or unit or [F15 body of Her Majesty’s forces], or for any command or other area, garrison or place, or for any ship, train or aircraft.

Textual Amendments

F15 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 10(1), 78(4)

Desertion, absence without leave, etc.F274 U.K.

[F16 37 Desertion. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who deserts shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable toimprisonment or any less punishment provided by this Act.

(2) For the purposes of this Act a person deserts who—

(a) leaves or fails to attend at his unit, ship or place of duty with the intention of remaining permanentlyabsent from duty without lawful authority, or, having left or failed to attend at his unit, ship or placeof duty, thereafter forms the like intention, or

(b) absents himself without leave with intent to avoid serving at any place overseas, or to avoid serviceor any particular service when before the enemy,

and references in this Act to desertion shall be construed accordingly.]

Textual Amendments

F16 S. 37 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 11(1), 78(4)

[F17 38 Absence without leave. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who—

(a) absents himself without leave, or

(b) improperly leaves his ship,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F17 S. 38 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 12(1), 78(4)

[F18 39 Failure to report or apprehend deserters or absentees. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who, knowing that any other person so subject has committed anoffence, or is attempting to commit an offence, under section 37(1) or section 38 of this Act—

(a) fails to report the fact without delay, or

(b) fails to take any steps within his power to cause that other person to be apprehended,

shall be liable, on conviction by court-martial, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F18 S. 39 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 13(1), 78(4)

40, 41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F19 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F19 Ss. 40, 41, 53 and 58 repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt.I

Malingering and drunkennessF274 U.K.

42 Malingering. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who—

(a) falsely pretends to be suffering from sickness or disability, or

(b) injures himself with intent thereby to render himself unfit for service, or causes himself to be injuredby any person with that intent, or

(c) injures another person subject to [F20 service law], at the instance of that person, with intent thereby to render that person unfit for service, or

(d) with intent to render or keep himself unfit for service, does or fails to do any thing (whether at thetime of the act or omission he is in hospital or not) whereby he produces, or prolongs or aggravates, anysickness or disability,

shall be guilty of malingering and shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonmentfor a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.

(2) In this section the expression “unfit” includes temporarily unfit.

Textual Amendments

F20 Words substituted byArmed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 14, 78(4)

43 Drunkenness. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who is guilty of drunkenness, whether on duty or not, shall, onconviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any lesspunishment provided by this Act F21

F22 (2) For the purposes of this section a person is guilty of drunkenness if owing to the influence of alcoholor any drug, whether alone or in combination with any other circumstances, he is unfit to be entrusted withhis duty or with any duty which [F23 he might reasonably expect to be called upon to perform], or behaves in a disorderly manner or in any manner likely to bring discredit on Her Majesty’sservice.

Textual Amendments

F21 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 37(3), Sch. 5

F22 Proviso repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I

F23 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 15(1), 78(4)

Disorderly conductF274 U.K.

[F24 43A Fighting, threatening words, etc. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who, without reasonable excuse—

(a) fights with any other person, whether subject to military law or not, or

(b) uses threatening, abusive, insulting or provocative words or behaviour likely to cause a disturbance,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F24 S. 43A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 16(1), 78(4)

Offences relating to propertyF274 U.K.

[F25 44 Damage to, and loss of, public or service property, etc. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who—

(a) wilfully damages or causes the loss of, or is concerned in the wilful damage or loss of, any public orservice property, or any property belonging to another person so subject, or

(b) by wilful neglect causes or allows damage to, or the loss of, any public or service property or propertyso belonging,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment or any less punishment provided bythis Act.

(2) Any person subject to military law who—

(a) by any negligent act or omission causes or allows damage to, or the loss of, any public or serviceproperty, or

(b) is guilty of any wilful or negligent act or omission which is likely to cause damage to, or the lossof, any such property,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F25 Ss. 44, 44A-46 substituted for ss. 44-46 by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 17(1),78(4)

44A Damage to, and loss of, Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material. U.K.

(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 44 above, a person subject to military law shall beguilty of an offence against this section if he—

(a) wilfully damages or causes the loss of, or is concerned in the wilful damage or loss of, any of HerMajesty’s aircraft or aircraft material, or

(b) by wilful neglect causes or allows damage to, or the loss of, any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraftmaterial, or

(c) without lawful authority disposes of any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material, or

(d) by any negligent act or omission causes or allows damage to, or the loss of, any of Her Majesty’saircraft or aircraft material,

(e) is guilty of any wilful or negligent act or omission which is likely to cause damage to, or the lossof, any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material, or

(f) during a state of war, wilfully and without proper occasion, or negligently, causes the sequestrationby or under the authority of a neutral state, or the destruction in a neutral state, of any of Her Majesty’saircraft.

(2) A person guilty of an offence against this section shall, on conviction by court-martial, beliable—

(a) if his offence consisted in an act or omission falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection(1), or if it consisted in an act or omission falling within paragraph (f) of that subsection and it isproved that he acted wilfully or with wilful neglect, to imprisonment or any less punishment provided bythis Act;

(b) in any other case, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment providedby this Act.

[F26 44B Interference etc. with equipment, messages or signals. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who by any conduct of his—

(a) intentionally impairs the efficiency or effectiveness of any equipment which is public or serviceproperty; or

(b) intentionally interferes with or modifies any message or other signal which is being transmitted, bymeans of a telecommunication system, directly or indirectly to or from any such equipment,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment or any less punishment provided bythis Act.

(2) Any person subject to military law who is guilty of any conduct which is likely to have theeffect—

(a) of impairing the efficiency or effectiveness of any such equipment; or

(b) of interfering with or modifying any such message or signal,

shall (whether or not that conduct has that effect) be liable, on conviction by court-martial, toimprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.

(3) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) of this section inrespect of any conduct likely to have a particular effect that, in the circumstances, his conduct was inall respects consistent with the exercise of reasonable care to avoid producing that effect.

(4) For the purposes of this section the efficiency or effectiveness of any equipment is impaired if,whether or not it is damaged, the equipment is made temporarily or permanently less efficient or effectiveeither for all purposes or for a particular purpose for which it has been designed, adapted, adjusted orprogrammed.

(5) In this section—

• “conduct” includes any act or omission;

• “equipment” includes any apparatus, any computer and any vessel, aircraft or vehicle;and

• “telecommunication system” has the same meaning as in the M4 Telecommunications Act 1984.]

Textual Amendments

F26 S. 44B inserted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 2(1)

Marginal Citations

M4 1984 c.12(96).

45 Misapplication and waste of public or service property. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who misapplies or wastefully expends any public or service propertyshall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or anyless punishment provided by this Act.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 45 extended (E.W.) (S.) by Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c. 53), s. 2(3)(a)

46 Offences relating to issues and decorations. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who makes away with (whether by pawning, selling, destroying or inany other way), or loses, or by negligence damages or allows to be damaged—

(a) any clothing, arms, ammunition or other equipment issued to him for his use for military purposes, or

(b) any military, air-force or naval decoration granted to him,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.

(2) It shall be a defence for a person charged under this section with losing any property that he tookreasonable steps for its care and preservation.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 S. 46 extended (E.W.) (S.) by Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c. 53), s. 2(3)(a)

Offences relating to billeting and requisitioning of vehiclesF274 U.K.

47 Billeting Offences. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who—

(a) knowing that no billeting requisition is in force under Part IV of this Act authorising him to demandany billets or that he is otherwise not authorised to demand them, obtains those billets or orders orprocures another person to obtain them;

(b) takes or agrees to take, or demands, from a person on whom he or any other person or any vehicle is oris to be billeted in pursuance of a billeting requisition under Part IV of this Act any money or thing asconsideration for not requiring, or ceasing to require, accommodation for himself or the said other personor standing room for the vehicle; or

[F27 (c) wilfully or by wilful neglect damages, or causes or allows to be damaged, any premises in which he isbilleted in pursuance of such a requisition, or any property being in such premises],

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.

Textual Amendments

F27 S. 47(c) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 18, 78(4)

48 Offences in relation to requisitioning of vehicles. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who—

(a) knowing that no requisitioning order is in force under Part IV of this Act authorising him to givedirections for the provision of any vehicle, or that he is otherwise not authorised to give such directions,gives directions for the provision of the vehicle or orders or procures another person to give suchdirections, or

(b) in purported exercise of powers conferred by a requisitioning order under Part IV of this Act takes,or orders or procures any other person to take, possession of a vehicle, knowing that no requisitioningorder is in force under the said Part IV under which the taking possession of the vehicle could beauthorised, or that the taking possession thereof is otherwise not authorised under such an order, or

(c) takes or agrees to take, or demands, from any person any money or thing as consideration for directions,or any particular directions, for the provision of a vehicle not being given, or possession of a vehiclenot being taken, or not being retained, under a requisitioning order under Part IV of this Act,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.

(2) The last foregoing subsection shall apply in relation to horses, mules, food, forage and stores (withinthe meaning of Part IV of this Act) as it applies in relation to vehicles.

Flying etc. offencesF274 U.K.

[F28 48A Loss or hazarding of ship. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who, either wilfully or by negligence, causes or allows to be lost,stranded or hazarded any of Her Majesty’s ships shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable—

(a) if he acts wilfully or with wilful neglect, to imprisonment or any less punishment provided by this Act,

(b) in any other case, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment soprovided.]

Textual Amendments

F28 S. 48A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 19(1), 78(4)

49 Dangerous flying, etc. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who is guilty of any act or neglect in flying, or in the use of anyaircraft, or in relation to any aircraft or aircraft material, which causes or is likely to cause loss oflife or bodily injury to any person shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment or anyless punishment provided by this Act:

Provided that if the offender has not acted wilfully or with wilful neglect he shall not be liableto be imprisoned for more than two years.

[F29 50 Inaccurate certification. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who makes or signs, without having ensured its accuracy,—

(a) a certificate relating to any matter affecting the seagoing or fighting efficiency of any of HerMajesty’s ships, or

(b) any certificate relating to any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F29 S. 50 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 20(1), 78(4)

51 Low flying. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who, being the pilot of one of Her Majesty’s aircraft, flies it ata height less than such height as may be provided by any regulations issued under the authority of [F30 the Defence Council], F31 , except—

(a) while taking off or alighting, or

(b) in such other circumstances as may be so provided,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act:

[F32 Provided that where a pilot flies an aircraft in contravention of this section on theorders of some other person who is in command of the aircraft, that other person shall be treated for thepurposes of this section as having been the pilot of, and flying, the aircraft at the material time.]

Textual Amendments

F30 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F31 Words repealed by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F32 Proviso inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 21(1), 78(4)

52 Annoyance by flying. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who, being the pilot of one of Her Majesty’s aircraft, flies it soas to cause, or to be likely to cause, unnecessary annoyance to any person shall, on conviction bycourt-martial, be liable to [F33 dismissal from Her Majesty’s service] or any less punishment provided by this Act:

[F34 Provided that where a pilot flies an aircraft in contravention of this section on theorders of some other person who is in command of the aircraft, that other person shall be treated for thepurposes of this section as having been the pilot of, and flying, the aircraft at the material time.]

Textual Amendments

F33 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 21(2), 78(4)

F34 Proviso inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 21(1), 78(4)

Offences relating to, and by, persons in custodyF274 U.K.

53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F35 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F35 Ss. 40, 41, 53 and 58 repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt.I

54 Permitting escape, and unlawful release of prisoners. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who wilfully allows to escape any person who is committed to hischarge, or whom it is his duty to guard, shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonmentor any less punishment provided by this Act.

(2) Any person subject to military law who—

(a) without proper authority releases any person who is committed to his charge, or

(b) without reasonable excuse allows to escape any person who is committed to his charge, or whom it is hisduty to guard,

shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.

55 Resistance to arrest. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who, being concerned in any quarrel or disorder, refuses to obey anyofficer who orders him into arrest, or F36 uses violence to, or offers violence to, any such officer, shall be guiltyof an offence against this section whether or not the officer is his superior officer.

(2) Any person subject to military law who F36 uses violence to, or offers violence to, any person, whether subject tomilitary law or not, whose duty it is to apprehend him or in whose custody he is shall be guilty of anoffence against this section.

(3) Any person guilty of an offence against this section shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liableto imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.

Textual Amendments

F36 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), ss. 4(1), 16(2), Sch. 2

56 Escape from confinement. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who escapes from arrest, prison or other lawful custody (whethermilitary or not), shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceedingtwo years or any less punishment provided by this Act.

Offences in relation to courts-martial and civil authoritiesF274 U.K.

57 Offences in relation to courts-martial. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who—

(a) having been duly summoned or ordered to attend as a witness before a court-martial, fails to comply withthe summons or order, or

(b) refuses to swear an oath when duly required by a court-martial to do so, or

(c) refuses to produce any document in his custody or under his control which a court-martial has lawfullyrequired him to produce, or

(d) when a witness, refuses to answer any question which a court-martial has lawfully required him toanswer, or

(e) wilfully insults any person, being a member of a court-martial or a witness or any other person whoseduty it is to attend on or before the court, while that person is acting as a member thereof or is soattending, or wilfully insults any such person as aforesaid while that person is going to or returning fromthe proceedings of the court, or

(f) wilfully interrupts the proceedings of a court-martial or otherwise misbehaves before the court,

shall, on conviction by a court-martial, other than the court in relation to which the offence wascommitted, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided bythis Act.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in the last foregoing subsection, where an offence against F37 that subsection is committed in relation to any court-martial held in pursuanceof this Act that court, if of opinion that it is expedient that the offender should be dealt with summarilyby the court instead of being brought to trial before another court-martial, may by order under the handof the president [F38 sentence the offender—

(a) if he is an officer, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twenty-one days, or to a fine notexceeding the amount of his pay for twenty-eight days (a day’s pay being taken for this purpose as the grossamount which is, or would apart from any forfeiture be, issuable to the offender in respect of the day onwhich the order is made),

(b) in any other case, to imprisonment or detention for such a term as aforesaid, or to such a fine asaforesaid.]

[F39 (2A) If the offender has attained seventeen years of age but is under twenty-one years of age, subsection(2) above shall have effect in relation to him as if the power to impose a sentence of imprisonment werea power to make an order under section 71AA below.]

(3) References in paragraphs (a) to (f) of subsection (1) of this section to a court-martial shall includereferences to a court-martial [F40 or disciplinary court] held in pursuance of [F41 the M5 Naval Discipline Act 1957], [F40 and to a court-martial held in pursuance of] the M6 Air Force Act 1955, or the law of any colony.

Textual Amendments

F37 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I

F38 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 23(2), 78(4)

F39 S. 57(2A) inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1),s. 58, Sch. 8 para.1(1)

F40 Words inserted by Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), Sch. 5

F41 Words substituted by virtue of Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), s. 137(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6 S. 57(1) extended by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 3 para. 15(1)

Marginal Citations

M5 1957 c. 53.

M6 1955 c. 19.

58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F42 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F42 Ss. 40, 41, 53 and 58 repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt.I

59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F43 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F43 S. 59 repealed by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 37(3), Sch. 5

Miscellaneous offencesF274 U.K.

[F44 60 Unauthorised disclosure of information. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who without lawful authority discloses or purports to disclose,whether orally, in writing, by signal or by any other means whatsoever, information relating to any matterupon which information would or might be useful to an enemy shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liableto imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.

(2) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section that he did not know andhad no reasonable cause to believe that the information disclosed related to a matter upon which informationwould or might be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy.]

Textual Amendments

F44 S. 60 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 24(1), 78(4)

61 Making of false statements on enlistment. U.K.

Any person who, when before a recruiting officer for the purpose of being attested in pursuance of PartI of this Act, has knowingly made a false answer to any question contained in the attestation paper and putto him by or by the direction of the recruiting officer shall if he has since become and remains subjectto military law be liable, on conviction by court-martial, to the like imprisonment as on summary convictionof an offence against section nineteen of this Act or to any less punishment provided by this Act.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 S. 61 extended (E.W.) (S.) by Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c. 53), s. 2(3)(a)

62 Making of false documents. U.K.

[F45 (1)] Any person subject to military law who—

[F46 (a) makes an official document or official record which is to his knowledge false in a material particular,or

(b) makes in any official document or official record an entry which is to his knowledge false in a materialparticular, or

(c) tampers with the whole or any part of any official document or official record (whether by altering it,destroying it, suppressing it, removing it or otherwise), or

(d) with intent to deceive, fails to make an entry in any official document or official record,]

[F47 (2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) a document or record is official if it is or is likely to be made use of, in connection with theperformance of his functions as such, by a person who holds office under, or is in the service of, theCrown; and

(b) a person who has signed or otherwise adopted as his own a document or record made by another shall betreated, as well as that other, as the maker of the document or record.

(3) In this section—

• “document” includes, in addition to a document in writing—

(a) any map, plan, graph or drawing;

(b) any photograph;

(c) any disc, tape, sound-track or other device in which sounds or other data (not being visual images) areembodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproducedtherefrom; and

(d) any film, negative, tape or other device in which one or more visual images are embodied so as to becapable as aforesaid of being reproduced therefrom;

• “film” includes a microfilm; and

• “record” includes any account, any information recorded otherwise than in a documentby mechanical, electronic or other means and any program in a computer.]

Textual Amendments

F45 S. 62 renumbered as s. 62(1) by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 3(2)

F46 S. 62(a)–(d) substituted for paras. (a)–(c) by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21,SIF 7:1), s. 3(1) (s. 62(d) repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I)

F47 S. 62(2)(3) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 3(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C8 S. 62 extended (E.W.) (S.) by Rehabilitation of Offences Act 1974 (c. 53), s. 2(3)(a)

63 Offences against civilian population. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who, in any country or territory outside the United Kingdom, commitsany offence against the person or property of any member of the civil population shall, on conviction bycourt-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment providedby this Act.

[F48 63A Offences against morale. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who spreads (whether orally, in writing, by signal, or otherwise)reports relating to operations of Her Majesty’s forces, of any forces co-operating therewith, or of any partof any of those forces, being reports likely to create despondency or unnecessary alarm, shall, onconviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any lesspunishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F48 S. 63A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 28(1), 78(4)

[F49 64 Scandalous conduct by officers. U.K.

Every officer subject to military law who behaves in a scandalous manner unbecoming the character ofan officer shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to dismissal from Her Majesty’s service withor without disgrace.]

Textual Amendments

F49 S. 64 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 29(1), 78(4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C9 S. 64 extended (E.W.) (S.) by Rehabilitation of offenders Act 1974 (c. 53), s. 2(3)(a)

65 Ill-treatment of officers or men of inferior rank. U.K.

If—

(a) any officer subject to military law F50 ill-treats any officer subject thereto of inferior rank or less seniority orany warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier subject to military law, or

(b) any warrant officer or non-commissioned officer subject to military law F50 ill-treats any person subject to military law, being a warrant officer ornon-commissioned officer of inferior rank or less seniority or a soldier,

he shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yearsor any less punishment provided by this Act.

Textual Amendments

F50 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), ss. 4(1), 16(2), Sch. 2

66 Disgraceful conduct. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who is guilty of disgraceful conduct of a cruel, indecent orunnatural kind shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceedingtwo years or any less punishment provided by this Act.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10 S. 66 extended (E.W.) (S.) by Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c. 53), s. 2(3)(a)

67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F51 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F51 Ss. 67, 75(3) and 81(3) repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt.I

68 Attempts to commit military offences. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who attempts to commit an offence against any of the foregoingprovisions of this Part of this Act [F52 or against section 69 below] shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to the like punishment as for that offence:

Provided that if the offence is one punishable by death, he shall not be liable to any greaterpunishment than imprisonment.

Textual Amendments

F52 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 32(1), 78(4)

[F53 68A Aiding and abetting etc., and inciting. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by anotherperson of an offence against any of the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act, or against section69 below, or who incites another person to commit any such offence, shall himself be guilty of the offencein question, and shall be liable to be charged, tried and punished accordingly.

(2) A person may be guilty by virtue of subsection (1) above of an offence against section 62 of this Actwhether or not he knows the nature of the document in question.]

Textual Amendments

F53 S. 68A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 32(2), 78(4)

69 Conduct to prejudice of military discipline. U.K.

Any person subject to military law who is guilty [F54 , whether by any act or ommission or otherwise, of conduct] to the prejudice of good order and military discipline shall, on conviction by court-martial, beliable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.

Textual Amendments

F54 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 4(2)

Civil offencesF274 U.K.

70 Civil offences. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law who commits a civil offence, whether in the United Kingdom orelsewhere, shall be guilty of an offence against this section.

(2) In this Act the expression “civil offence” means any act or omission punishable by the law of England or which, ifcommitted in England, would be punishable by that law; and in this Act the expression “the corresponding civil offence” means the civil offence the commission of whichconstitutes the offence against this section.

[F55 (2A) For the purpose of determining under this section whether an attempt to commit an offence is a civiloffence, subsection (4) of section 1 of the M7 Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (which relatesto the offence of attempt) shall have effect as if for the words “offence which, if it were completed,would be triable in England and Wales as an indictable offence" there were substituted the words “civiloffence consisting of an act punishable by the law of England and Wales as an indictable offence or an actwhich, if committed in England or Wales, would be so punishable by that law".]

(3) [F56 Subject to section 71A below,] a person convicted by court-martial of an offence against this section shall—

(a) if the corresponding civil offence is treason F57 , be liable to suffer death F57 ;

[F58 (aa) if the corresponding civil offence is murder, be liable to imprisonment for life];

[F59 (ab) if the corresponding civil offence is an offence of genocide consisting of the killing of any person,be liable to imprisonment for life];

(b) in any other case, be liable to suffer any punishment or punishments which a civil court could awardfor the corresponding civil offence, if committed in England, being a punishment or punishments providedby this Act, or such punishment, less than the maximum punishment which a civil court could so award, asis so provided:

F60 (4) A person shall not be charged with an offence against this section committed in the United Kingdom ifthe corresponding civil offence is treason, murder, manslaughter, treason-felony or rape [F61 or an offence of genocide][F62 or an offence under section 1 of the M8 Biological Weapons Act 1974.]

[F63 In this and the following subsection the references to murder shall apply also toaiding, abetting, counselling or procuring suicide.]

(5) Where the corresponding civil offence is murder or manslaughter, [F64 or an offence of genocide consisting of the killing of any person] an offence against this section shall be deemed, for the purposes of the last foregoing subsection,to have been committed at the place of the commission of the act or occurrence of the neglect which causedthe death, irrespective of the place of the death.

[F65 (6) A person subject to military law may be charged with an offence against this section notwithstandingthat he could on the same facts be charged with an offence against any other provision of this Part of thisAct.]

Textual Amendments

F55 S. 70(2A) inserted by Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (c. 47), s. 7(1)

F56 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 10(3)(a)

F57 Words repealed by Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 (c. 71), Sch.

F58 S. 70(3)(aa) inserted by Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 (c. 71), s. 1(4)

F59 S. 70(3)(ab) inserted by Genocide Act 1969 (c. 12), s. 1(6)(a)

F60 Proviso repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I

F61 Words inserted by Genocide Act 1969 (c. 12), s. 1(6)(b)

F62 Words inserted by Biological Weapons Act 1974 (c. 6), s. 5(1)

F63 Words added by Suicide Act 1961 (c. 60), Sch. 1 Pt. II

F64 Words inserted by Genocide Act 1969 (c. 12), s. 1(6)(c)

F65 S. 70(6) added by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 34(1)(b), 78(4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11 S. 70 amended by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 7(4)

Marginal Citations

M7 1981 c. 47.

M8 1974 c. 6.

Punishments available to courts-martialF274 U.K.

[F66 71 Scale of punishments, and supplementary provisions. U.K.

(1) The punishments which may be awarded by sentence of a court-martial under this Act are, subject to thefollowing provisions of this section [F67 and section 71A below] and to the limitations hereinafter provided on the powers of certain courts-martial, as follows—

(a) death,

(b) imprisonment,

[F68 (bb) detention by virtue of a custodial order made under section 71AA of this Act;]

(c) dismissal with disgrace from Her Majesty’s service,

(d) dismissal from Her Majesty’s service,

(e) detention for a term not exceeding two years,

(f) forfeiture of seniority for a specified term or otherwise,

(g) reduction to the ranks or any less reduction in rank,

(h) fine,

(i) severe reprimand,

(j) reprimand,

(k) in the case of an offence which has occasioned any expense, loss or damage, stoppages, and

(l) such minor punishments as may from time to time be authorised by the Defence Council;

and references in this Act to any punishment provided by this Act are, subject to the limitationimposed in any particular case by the addition of the word “less", references to any one or more ofthe said punishments.

For the purposes of this Part of this Act a punishment specified in any of the above paragraphs shallbe treated as less than the punishments specified in the paragraphs preceding that paragraph and greaterthan those specified in the paragraphs following it:

[F69 Provided that a punishment such as is mentioned in paragraph (e) of thissubsection shall not be treated as a less punishment than a punishment such as is mentioned in paragraph(b) or (bb) if the term of detention is longer than the term of imprisonment or, as the case may be, thanthe term of detention by virtue of the custodial order.]

(2) Subsection (1) above shall have effect—

(a) in relation to a convicted person who is an officer, with the omission of paragraphs (e), (g) and (l),

(b) in relation to a convicted person who is a warrant officer, with the omission of paragraphs (f) and (l),

(c) in relation to a convicted person who is a non-commissioned officer, with the omission of paragraph (f),and

(d) in relation to a convicted person who is a soldier, with the omission of paragraphs (f), (g), (i) and(j).

(3) A person [F70 who, otherwise than under section 57(2) of this Act, is] sentenced by a court-martial to imprisonment shall also be sentenced either to dismissal with disgracefrom Her Majesty’s service or to dismissal from Her Majesty’s service:

Provided that, if the court-martial fail to give effect to this subsection, their sentence shall notbe invalid, but shall be deemed to include a sentence of dismissal from Her Majesty’s service.

(4) A warrant officer or non-commissioned officer [F70 who, otherwise than under section 57(2) of this Act, is] sentenced by a court-martial to imprisonment, to dismissal from Her Majesty’s service (whether or notwith disgrace), or to detention, shall also be sentenced to be reduced to the ranks:

Provided that, if the court-martial fail to give effect to this subsection, their sentence shall notbe invalid, but shall be deemed to include a sentence of reduction to the ranks.

(5) The amount of a fine that may be awarded by a court-martial—

(a) except in the case of an offence against section 70 of this Act, shall not exceed the amount of theoffender’s pay for twenty-eight days or, where the offence was committed on active service, fifty-six days,and

(b) in the said excepted case—

(i) where the civil offence constituting an offence against that section is punishable by a civil court inEngland only on summary conviction, and is so punishable by a fine, shall not exceed the maximum amount ofthat fine, and

(ii) where the said civil offence is punishable by a civil court in England on indictment (whether or notit is also punishable on summary conviction) by a fine, shall not exceed the maximum amount of that fine;

and for the purposes of this subsection a day’s pay shall, as regards a person found guilty of anoffence, be deemed to be the gross pay that is, or would (apart from any forfeiture) be, issuable to thatperson in respect of the day on which punishment is awarded in respect of the offence.]

Textual Amendments

F66 S. 71 substituted for ss. 71-73 by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 36, 78(4)

F67 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 10(3)(b)

F68 S. 71(1)(bb) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 2(3)(a)

F69 Proviso substituted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s.16(1), Sch. 1 para. 4

F70 Words inserted (retrospectively) by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1),s. 16(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(a)

[F71 71A Juveniles. U.K.

(1) A person under [F72 21] years of age shall not be sentenced to imprisonment.

[F73 (1A) Where a person under 21 years of age is convicted of murder or any other civil offence the sentence for which is fixed by law as imprisonment for life, the court shall sentence him to custody for life unless he is liable to be detained under subsection (3) below.

(1B) Where a person aged 17 years or over but under 21 years of age is convicted of any other offence for which a person aged 21 years or over would be liable to imprisonment for life, the court shall sentence him to custody for life if—

(a) it is of the opinion that no other method of dealing with him is appropriate; and

(b) it considers that a custodial sentence for life would be appropriate.

(1C) For the purpose of determining whether any method of dealing with a person to whom subsection (1B) of this section applies, other than sentencing him to custody for life, is appropriate, the court shall obtain and consider information about the circumstances, and shall take into account any information before the court which is relevant to his character and his physical and mental condition.]

(2)

F74 (3) A person convicted of murder who was under 18 years of age when the offence was committed shall not be sentenced to imprisonment for life, nor shall sentence of death be pronounced on or recorded against a person convicted of any offence who was under 18 years of age when the offence was committed; but in lieu thereof the court shall (notwithstanding anything in this or any other Act) sentence him to be detained during Her Majesty’s pleasure, and if so sentenced he shall be liable to be detained in such place and under such conditions as the Secretary of State may direct.

(4) A person under 17 years of age found guilty of a civil offence (other than one the sentence for which is fixed) which is punishable by a civil court in England or Wales on indictment by, in the case of an adult, a term of imprisonment for 14 years or more, may be sentenced by the court, if it is of opinion that none of the other methods in which the case may be legally dealt with is suitable, to be detained for such period, not exceeding the maximum term of imprisonment with which the offence is punishable by such a civil court in the case of an adult, as may be specified in the sentence; and where such a sentence has been passed, the person on whom it is passed shall during that period be liable to be detained in such place and on such conditions as the Secretary of State may direct.

(5) A sentence of [F75 custody for life or] detention under subsection (3) or (4) above shall be treated for the purposes of this Part of thisAct as a punishment provided by this Act involving the same degree of punishment as a sentence ofimprisonment; and section 71(3) and (4) above shall apply to such a sentence of detention [F75 and to a sentence of custody for life] as they apply to a sentence of imprisonment.

(6) A person detained pursuant to the directions of the Secretary of State under this section shall, while so detained, be deemed to be in legal custody.]

Textual Amendments

F71 S. 71A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s 10(1)

F72 “21" substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para.2(a)

F73 S. 71A(1A)–(1C) inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1),s. 58, Sch.8 para. 2(b)

F74 S. 71A(2) repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 78, Sch. 16

F75 Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para.2(d)

[F76 71AA Young service offenders: custodial orders. U.K.

(1) Where a person who has attained seventeen years of age but is under twenty-one years of age is found guilty by a court-martial of an offence punishable under this Act with imprisonment, the court shall have power, [F77 subject to subsection (1A) below], to make an order (in this section referred to as a “custodial order") committing him to be detained in accordance with the provisions of this section for a [F77 period to be specified in the order not exceeding the maximum period for which he could have been sentenced to imprisonment if he had attained the age of twenty-one years.]

[F78 (1A) The court shall not make a custodial order in respect of a person unless it is of the opinion that no other method of dealing with him is appropriate.

(1B) For the purposes of determining whether there is any appropriate method of dealing with a person other than making a custodial order in respect of him the court shall obtain and consider information about the circumstances, and shall take into account any information before the court which is relevant to his character and his physical and mental condition.]

(2) If a person is outside the United Kingdom at the time a custodial order is made in respect of him, he shall as soon as practicable after the confirmation of the sentence is completed be removed to the UnitedKingdom.

(3) A person in respect of whom a custodial order has been made shall be detained in such appropriate institution as the Secretary of State may direct, and any enactment applying to persons detained in any such institution shall apply to a person so detained under this section.

(4) A custodial order shall be sufficient authority for the detention of the person subject to it in service custody until he is received into the institution specified in the Secretary of State’s direction.

[F79 (5) The following provisions of this Act shall apply in the case of a sentence under a custodial order as they apply in the case of a sentence of imprisonment, that is to say—

(a) sections 71(3) and (4), 118(1), 118A(1) and (3) 119A(3) and 145; and

(b) for the period before a person sentenced under a custodial order is received into the institution where he is to be detained (or for the currency of the sentence if its term ends before he is so received), sections 119(2), (4) and (5), 122, 123, 129, 142 and 190B;

and, accordingly, references in those provisions to a sentence of imprisonment shall include for the purposes of this subsection references to a sentence under a custodial order.]

(6) In this section “appropriate institution” means—

[F80 (a) where the offender is in or removed to England or Wales, any institution in which a person sentenced to detention in a young offender institution could be detained, section 1C of the Criminal Justice Act M9 1982 having effect in relation to the offender as it has effect inrelation to an offender sentenced to detention in a young offender institution;]

[F81 (b) where the offender is in or removed to Scotland, a young offenders institution;]

(c) where the offender is in or removed to Northern Ireland, a young offenders centre.

[F82 (6A) Section 15 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 (release of young offenders) shall apply to persons released from a term of detention under a custodial order as it applies to persons released from a term of detention under a detention centre order or a term of youth custody.]

[F83 (6B) [F84 Section 32 of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989] (supervision of young offenders following release) shall apply to persons released from a term of detention under a custodial order as it applies to those released from a term of detention imposed under section 207 or section 415 of the M10 Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act1975.]

(7) This section does not apply to offenders who are civilians (as regards whom similar provision is made by paragraph 10 of Schedule 5A to this Act)]

Textual Amendments

F76 S. 71AA inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 2(1)

F77 Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para.3(a)

F78 S. 71AA(1A)(1B) inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8para. 3(b)

F79 S. 71AA(5) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 16(1), Sch. 1 para.5(2)

F80 S. 71AA(6)(a) substituted (E.W.) by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s.123(6), Sch. 8 para. 4(a)

F81 S. 71AA(6)(b) substituted (S.) by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 124(4),Sch. 9 para. 2(a)

F82 S. 71AA(6A) inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para.3(d)

F83 S. 71AA(6B) inserted (S.) by Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985(c. 73, SIF 39:1), s. 46(1)

F84 Words substituted by Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 45(1), Sch. 2para. 3

Marginal Citations

M9 1982 c.48 (39:1).

M10 1975 c.21 (39:1).

Yn ddilys o 01/01/1992

[71AB F85 Reasons to be given where custodial sentence awarded to young offender. U.K.

(1) This section applies where a court—

(a) makes a custodial order under section 71AA of this Act, or

(b) passes a sentence of custody for life under section 71A(1B) of this Act.

(2) It shall be the duty of the court—

(a) to state in open court and to record in the proceedings that it is satisfied that the offender qualifies for a custodial sentence under one or more of the paragraphs of subsection (1F) of section 71A of this Act, the paragraph or paragraphs in question, and why it is so satisfied; and

(b) to explain to the offender in open court and in ordinary language why it is passing a custodial sentence on him.

(3) Where a court makes a custodial order and, in accordance with its duty under subsection (2) above, makes the statement required by paragraph (a) of that subsection, the matters stated shall be specified in the order (made under Imprisonment and Detention Rules) pursuant to which the offender is committed into custody.]

Textual Amendments

F85 S. 71AB inserted (1.1.1992) by Armed Forces Act 1991 (c. 62, SIF 7:1), s. 4(1); S.I. 1991/2719, art. 2

[F86 71B Power to impose imprisonment for default in payment of fines. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, if a court-martial imposes a fine on a person found guiltyof any offence—

(a) who is sentenced to imprisonment on the same occasion for the same or another offence or,

(b) who is already serving or otherwise liable to serve a term of imprisonment, [F87 or

(c) in respect of whom the court makes an order under section 71AA above on the same occasion for the same or another offence, or

(d) who is already serving or otherwise liable to serve a period of detention under such an order,]

it may make an order fixing a further consecutive term of imprisonment [F88 or detention] which the said person is to undergo if any part of the fine is not dulypaid or recovered on or before the date on which he could otherwise be released.

[F89 (2) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, the Table in section 31(3A) of the M11 Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (maximum periods of imprisonment for default inpayment of fines etc.), as from time to time amended under section 143 of the M12 Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, shall have effect for the purpose of determiningthe maximum periods of further imprisonment or detention that may be specified under subsection (1) abovefor fines of the amounts set out in that Table.]

(3) Where the whole amount of the said fine is paid or recovered in the prescribed manner the order undersubsection (1) above shall cease to have effect, and the person subject to it shall be released unless heis in custody for some other cause.

(4) Where part of the said amount is paid or recovered in the prescribed manner, the period of the furtherterm of imprisonment [F90 or detention] specified under subsection (1) above shall be reduced by such number of days as bears to the totalnumber of days in that period less one day the same proportion as the amount so paid or recovered bears tothe amount of the said fine.

(5) In calculating the reduction required under the last preceding subsection any fraction of a day shallbe left out of account.

[F91 (5A) An order imposing a term of detention under this section shall be given effect as if it were a custodialorder under section 71AA above.]

(6) In this section, references to the due recovery of any amount include references to deductions from payunder Part III of this Act, but do not include references to amounts forfeited under the said Part III.]

Textual Amendments

F86 S. 71B inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 6 para. 1

F87 S. 71B(1)(c)(d) and word “or" immediately preceding it inserted by Criminal JusticeAct 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para. 4(1)(a)

F88 Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para.4(1)(b)

F89 S. 71B(2) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 5

F90 Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para.4(1)(b)

F91 S. 71B(5A) inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para.4(1)(c)

Marginal Citations

M11 1973 c.62(39:1).

M12 1980 c.43(82).

ArrestF274 U.K.

74 Power to arrest offenders. U.K.

(1) Any person subject to military law found committing an offence against any provision of this Act, oralleged to have committed or reasonably suspected of having committed any such offence, may be arrested inaccordance with the following provisions of this section.

(2) An officer may be arrested by an officer of the regular forces of superior rank, or, if engaged in aquarrel or disorder, by such an officer of any rank.

(3) A warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier may be arrested by any officer, warrant officeror non-commissioned officer of the regular forces:

Provided that a person shall not be arrested by virtue of this subsection except by a person ofsuperior rank.

(4) A provost officer, or any officer, warrant officer F92 non-commissioned officer [F93 or rating] legally exercising authority under a provost officer or on his behalf, may arrest any officer, warrantofficer, non-commissioned officer or soldier:

Provided that an officer shall not be arrested by virtue of this subsection except on the order ofanother officer.

(5) The power of arrest given to any person by this section may (subject to the provisions of Queen’sRegulations) be exercised either personally or by ordering into arrest the person to be arrested or bygiving orders for that person’s arrest.

Textual Amendments

F92 Words repealed by Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), Sch. 5

F93 Words inserted by Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), Sch. 5

[F94 Custody]F274 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F94 S. 75-75E and the preceding cross heading substituted (2.10.2000) for s. 75 by 2000 c. 4, s. 1(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

75 Provisions for avoiding delay after arrest. U.K.

(1) The allegations against any person subject to military law who is under arrest shall be dulyinvestigated without unnecessary delay, and as soon as may be either proceedings shall be taken forpunishing his offence or he shall be released from arrest.

(2) Wherever any person subject to military law, having been taken into military custody, remains underarrest for a longer period than eight days without a court-martial for his trial being assembled, a specialreport on the necessity for further delay shall be made by his commanding officer to the prescribedauthority in the prescribed manner, and a similar report shall be made to the like authority and in the likemanner every eight days until a court-martial is assembled or the offence is dealt with summarily or he isreleased from arrest:

Provided that in the case of a person on active service compliance with this subsection shall beexcused in so far as it is not reasonably practicable having regard to the exigencies of militaryoperations.

(3)F95

Textual Amendments

F95 Ss. 67, 75(3) and 81(3) repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt.I

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C12 S. 75 excluded by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45) s. 15(7)

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

F96 75A Authorisation of custody without charge. U.K.

(1) Where a person is arrested under section 74 of this Act—

(a) the arrest, and

(b) any grounds on which he is being kept in military custody without being charged,

shall be reported as soon as practicable to his commanding officer.

(2) Until such a report is made, the person may be kept in military custody without being charged, but only if the person who made the arrest has reasonable grounds for believing that keeping him in military custody without charge is necessary—

(a) to secure or preserve evidence relating to an offence for which he is under arrest, or

(b) to obtain such evidence by questioning him.

(3) After receiving a report under subsection (1) above the commanding officer shall as soon as practicable determine—

(a) whether the requirements of subsection (4) below are satisfied, and

(b) if so, whether to exercise his powers under that subsection;

and the person to whom the report relates may be kept in military custody for such period as is necessary to enable the commanding officer to make that determination.

(4) If in relation to the person to whom the report relates the commanding officer has reasonable grounds for believing—

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

(b) that the investigation is being conducted diligently and expeditiously,

he may authorise the keeping of that person in military custody.

(5) An authorisation under subsection (4) above—

(a) if given less than 12 hours after the relevant time, shall end not more than 12 hours after the relevant time;

(b) if given not less than 12 but less than 36 hours after the relevant time, shall end not more than 36 hours after the relevant time;

(c) if given not less than 36 but less than 48 hours after the relevant time, shall end not more than 48 hours after the relevant time.

(6) A person shall not be kept in military custody later than 48 hours after the relevant time without being charged except in accordance with section 75C of this Act.

(7) In this Act “the relevant time” in relation to a person arrested under section 74 of this Act means the time of the arrest.

Textual Amendments

F96 Ss. 75-75E and the preceding cross-heading substituted (2.10.2000) for s. 75 by 2000 c. 4, s. 1(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C13 S. 75A(1)(3)(5)(6) modified (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2366, arts. 2, 3, Sch. para. 2

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

F97 75B Review of custody by commanding officer. U.K.

(1) The commanding officer of a person kept in military custody in accordance with section 75A of this Act shall, subject to subsection (3) below, review the keeping of that person in military custody not later than the end of the period for which it is authorised.

(2) Subsections (4) and (5) of section 75A of this Act shall apply on each review under this section as they apply where a report is received under subsection (1) of that section.

(3) A review may be postponed—

(a) if, having regard to all the circumstances prevailing at the expiry of the last authorisation under subsection (4) of that section, it is not practicable to carry out the review at that time;

(b) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a) above—

(i) if at that time the person in military custody is being questioned and the commanding officer is satisfied that an interruption of the questioning for the purpose of carrying out the review would prejudice the investigation in connection with which he is being questioned; or

(ii) if at that time the commanding officer is not readily available.

(4) If a review is postponed under subsection (3) above—

(a) it shall be carried out as soon as practicable after the expiry of the last authorisation under section 75A(4) of this Act, and

(b) the keeping in military custody of the person to whom the review relates shall by virtue of this paragraph be authorised until that time.

Textual Amendments

F97 S. 75-75E and the preceding cross-heading substituted (2.10.2000) for s. 75 by 2000 c. 4, s. 1(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

F98 75C Extension of custody without charge. U.K.

(1) If, on an application by the commanding officer of a person arrested under section 74 of this Act, a judicial officer is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the continued keeping of that person in military custody is justified, the judicial officer may by order authorise the keeping of that person in military custody.

(2) A judicial officer 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 shall be entitled to be legally represented at the hearing and, if he is not so represented but wishes to be so represented—

(a) the judicial officer shall adjourn the hearing to enable him to obtain representation, and

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

(4) For the purposes of this section, the continued keeping of a person in military custody is justified only if—

(a) keeping him in custody without charge is necessary to secure or preserve evidence relating to an 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.

(5) Subject to subsection (7) below, an application under this section may be made—

(a) at any time before the end of 48 hours after the relevant time; or

(b) if it is not practicable for the application to be heard at the expiry of that period, as soon as practicable thereafter but not more than 96 hours after the relevant time.

(6) Where subsection (5)(b) above applies, an authorisation on a review under section 75B of this Act may be for a period ending more than 48 hours after the relevant time, but may not be—

(a) for a period of more than six hours, or

(b) for a period ending more than 96 hours after the relevant time.

(7) If—

(a) an application under this section is made more than 48 hours after the relevant time, and

(b) it appears to the judicial officer that it would have been reasonable for the commanding officer to make the application before the end of that period,

the judicial officer shall refuse the application.

(8) Where on an application under this section relating to any person the judicial officer is not satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that continuing to keep that person in military custody is justified, he shall—

(a) refuse the application, or

(b) adjourn the hearing of it until a time not later than 48 hours after the relevant time.

(9) The person to whom the application relates may be kept in military custody during the adjournment.

(10) The period for which a judicial officer, on an application under this section, may authorise the keeping of a person in military custody shall be such period, ending not more than 96 hours after the relevant time, as he thinks fit having regard to the evidence before him.

(11) Where a judicial officer refuses an application under this section at any time less than 48 hours after the relevant time, he may direct that the person to whom it relates forthwith be charged or released from military custody.

(12) Where a judicial officer refuses an application under this section at any later time, he shall direct that the person to whom it relates forthwith be charged or released from military custody.

Textual Amendments

F98 S. 75-75E and the preceding cross-heading substituted (2.10.2000) for s. 75 by 2000 c. 4, s. 1(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

F99 75D Custody without charge: other cases. U.K.

(1) Sections 75 to 75C of this Act apply—

(a) where a person is delivered into military custody under section 187(2) or (3), 188(2) or 190A(3) of this Act or under Schedule 2 to the M13 Reserve Forces Act 1996, and

(b) in any other case where a person arrested by a constable is delivered into military custody,

as they apply where a person is arrested under section 74 of this Act, subject to such modifications as the Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument prescribe.

(2) In those cases references to the relevant time are—

(a) in relation to a person delivered into military custody following arrest under section 186 or 190A of this Act or paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the 1996 Act or otherwise following arrest by a constable, references to the time of the arrest;

(b) in relation to a person delivered into military custody following surrender under section 188 of this Act or paragraph 6 of that Schedule, references to the time of the surrender.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F99 S. 75-75E and the preceding cross-heading substituted (2.10.2000) for s. 75 by 2000 c. 4, s. 1(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M13 1996 c. 14.

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

F100 75E Custody without charge: supplementary. U.K.

(1) The Defence Council may by regulations make provision with respect to—

(a) the delegation by the commanding officer of a person in military custody of any of the commanding officer’s functions under sections 75 to 75C of this Act;

(b) circumstances in which a person kept in military custody without being charged is to be informed of, or given an opportunity to make representations about, any matter;

(c) the keeping of written records relating to compliance with any requirement of sections 75 to 75C of this Act or of regulations under paragraph (b) above.

(2) Any reference in sections 75A to 75C of this Act to a period of time is to be treated as approximate only.

Textual Amendments

F100 S. 75-75E and the preceding cross-heading substituted (2.10.2000) for s. 75 by 2000 c. 4, s. 1(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F101 75F Custody after charge. U.K.

(1) Where a person subject to military law (“the accused”) is kept in military custody after being charged with an offence against any provision of this Part of this Act, he shall be brought before a judicial officer as soon as practicable.

(2) Where the accused is brought before a judicial officer in accordance with subsection (1) above, the judicial officer may by order authorise the keeping of the accused in military custody, but only if—

(a) the judicial officer is satisfied that there are substantial grounds for believing that the accused, if released from military custody, would—

(i) fail to attend any hearing in the proceedings against him,

(ii) commit an offence while released, or

(iii) interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice, whether in relation to himself or any other person;

(b) the judicial officer is satisfied that the accused should be kept in military custody for his own protection or, if he is under 17 years of age, for his own welfare;

(c) the judicial officer is satisfied that it has not been practicable to obtain sufficient information for the purpose of taking the decisions required by this subsection for want of time since the accused was charged with the offence; or

(d) the accused, having been released from military custody after being charged with the offence, has deserted or absented himself without leave.

(3) In taking the decision required by subsection (2)(a) above, the judicial officer shall have regard to such of the following considerations as appear to him to be relevant—

(a) the nature and seriousness of the alleged offence (and the probable method of dealing with the accused for it),

(b) the character, antecedents, associations and social ties of the accused,

(c) the accused’s behaviour on previous occasions while charged with an offence and released from military custody or while on bail in criminal proceedings,

(d) the strength of the evidence that the accused committed the offence,

as well as to any others which appear to be relevant.

(4) If—

(a) the accused is charged with an offence to which this subsection applies;

(b) representations are made as to any of the matters mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above; and

(c) the judicial officer decides not to authorise the keeping of the accused in military custody,

the judicial officer shall state the reasons for his decision and shall cause those reasons to be included in the record of the proceedings.

(5) Subsection (4) above applies to any offence under section 70 of this Act where the corresponding civil offence is—

(a) murder;

(b) manslaughter;

(c) rape;

(d) attempted murder; or

(e) attempted rape.

(6) The period for which a judicial officer may, by an order under subsection (2) above, authorise the keeping of the accused in military custody shall be such period, ending (subject to section 75G(7) of this Act) not later than 8 days after the day on which the order is made, as he thinks fit having regard to the evidence before him.

(7) An order under subsection (2) above does not authorise the keeping of the accused in military custody—

(a) if the accused is subsequently released from military custody, at any time after his release; or

(b) at any time after the award of punishment on summary dealing with the charge or any amended or substituted charge.

(8) Subsection (1) above does not apply where the accused is charged at a time when he is kept in military custody by reason of an award or sentence under this Act or of an order under subsection (2) above, unless that reason ceases to apply.]

Textual Amendments

F101 S. 75F inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 2(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F102 75G Review of custody after charge. U.K.

(1) Where the keeping of the accused in military custody is authorised by an order under section 75F(2) of this Act, it shall be reviewed by a judicial officer not later than the end of the period for which it is authorised.

(2) If at any time it appears to the accused’s commanding officer that the grounds on which such an order was made have ceased to exist, he shall—

(a) release the accused from military custody, or

(b) request a review.

(3) Where a request is made under subsection (2) above, a review shall be carried out as soon as practicable.

(4) Subsections (2) to (6) of section 75F of this Act apply on a review as they apply where the accused is brought before a judicial officer under subsection (1) of that section.

(5) At the first review the accused may support an application for release from military custody with any argument as to fact or law that he desires (whether or not he has advanced that argument previously).

(6) At subsequent reviews the judicial officer need not hear arguments as to fact or law which have been heard previously.

(7) On a review at a hearing at which the accused is legally represented, the judicial officer may, if the accused consents, authorise the keeping of the accused in military custody for a period of not more than 28 clear days.

(8) In this section “review” means a review under subsection (1) above.]

Textual Amendments

F102 S. 75G inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 3(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F103 75H Custody during court-martial proceedings. U.K.

(1) Where the accused is kept in military custody under an order under section 75F(2) of this Act at any time after the commencement of his trial by court-martial, section 75G of this Act (and section 75F as applied by that section) shall apply with the following modifications.

(2) In relation to a review before the announcement of the court-martial’s finding on the charge or every charge against the accused, references to a judicial officer shall have effect as references to the judge advocate.

(3) In section 75F(2), after paragraph (d) there shall be inserted— “;or

(e) the accused’s case has been adjourned for inquiries or a report and it appears to the judicial officer that it would be impracticable to complete the inquiries or make the report without keeping the accused in military custody. "

(4) Section 75F(3)(d) does not apply in the case of an accused who is awaiting sentence.

(5) An order under section 75F(2) does not authorise the keeping of the accused in military custody after he is sentenced by the court-martial.

(6) Subsection (1) above shall cease to apply (but without prejudice to any order already made by virtue of that subsection) if the court-martial is dissolved.]

Textual Amendments

F103 S. 75H inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 4(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F104 75J Release from custody after charge or during proceedings. U.K.

(1) This section applies where, at a hearing under section 75F(1) of this Act or on a review under section 75G(1) of this Act, the judicial officer or judge advocate (as the case may be) does not authorise keeping the accused in military custody.

(2) Where this section applies, the accused—

(a) subject to paragraph (b) below, shall be released from military custody forthwith, but

(b) if he is subject to military law only by virtue of section 131 or 205(1)(ea), (eb), (g) or (h) of this Act, may be required to comply, before release or later, with such requirements as appear to the judicial officer or judge advocate (as the case may be) to be necessary for the purpose of securing his attendance at any hearing in connection with the offence to which the charge relates.

(3) A person on whom a requirement has been imposed under subsection (2)(b) above is guilty of an offence if he fails without reasonable cause to attend any hearing to which the requirement relates.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on conviction by court-martial to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F104 S. 75J inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 5(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F105 75K Arrest during proceedings. U.K.

(1) Except where subsection (3) below applies, the commanding officer of a person subject to military law (“the accused”) who—

(a) has been charged with, or is awaiting sentence for, an offence against any provision of this Part of this Act, and

(b) is not in military custody,

may, if satisfied that taking the accused into military custody is justified, give orders for his arrest.

(2) Subject to subsection (4) below, subsection (3) below applies between the commencement of the trial of the accused by court-martial and the announcement of the court-martial’s finding on the charge or every charge against the accused.

(3) Where this subsection applies, the judge advocate, if satisfied that taking the accused into military custody is justified, may direct the arrest of the accused; and any person with power to arrest the accused for an offence against a provision of this Act shall have the same power, exercisable in the same way, to arrest him pursuant to a direction under this subsection.

(4) Subsection (3) above shall cease to apply (but without prejudice to any direction already given by virtue of that subsection) if the court-martial is dissolved.

(5) For the purposes of this section, taking the accused into military custody is justified if there are substantial grounds for believing that, if not taken into military custody, he would—

(a) fail to attend any hearing in the proceedings against him,

(b) commit an offence,

(c) injure himself, or

(d) interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice, whether in relation to himself or any other person.

(6) Taking the accused into military custody is also justified for the purposes of this section if—

(a) the accused is subject to military law only by virtue of section 131 of this Act, and

(b) he has failed to attend any hearing in the proceedings against him.

(7) A person arrested under subsection (1) above, if kept in military custody—

(a) shall be treated as being in military custody under an order under section 75F(2) of this Act, and

(b) shall be brought as soon as practicable before a judicial officer to be dealt with as on a review under section 75G(1) of this Act.

(8) A person arrested under subsection (3) above—

(a) shall be treated as being in military custody under an order under section 75F(2) of this Act, and

(b) shall be brought as soon as practicable before the judge advocate on whose direction the arrest was made (unless already before him), and shall be dealt with by him as on a review under section 75G(1) of this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F105 S. 75K inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 6(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C14 S. 75K(1)(7) modifed (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2366, arts. 2, 3, Sch. para. 5

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F106 75L Judicial officers. U.K.

(1) Judicial officers shall be appointed for the purposes of this Act by the Judge Advocate General.

(2) No person shall be appointed under this section unless—

(a) he is qualified under section 84B(2) of this Act for appointment as the judge advocate in relation to a court-martial, or

(b) he has, and has had for at least five years, in any Commonwealth country or any colony rights and duties similar to those of a barrister or solicitor in England and Wales, and is subject to punishment or disability for breach of professional rules.]

Textual Amendments

F106 S. 75L inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 7(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F107 75M Custody rules. U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may make rules with respect to proceedings—

(a) on an application under section 75C of this Act;

(b) under section 75F(1) of this Act;

(c) on a review under section 75G(1) of this Act.

(2) Rules under this section may in particular make provision with respect to—

(a) arrangements preliminary to the proceedings;

(b) the representation of the person to whom the proceedings relate;

(c) the admissibility of evidence;

(d) procuring the attendance of witnesses;

(e) the immunities and privileges of witnesses;

(f) the administration of oaths;

(g) circumstances in which a review under section 75G(1) of this Act may be carried out without a hearing;

(h) the use for the purposes of the proceedings of live television links or similar arrangements, including the use of such a link or other arrangement as a means of satisfying the requirement of section 75C(2)(b), 75F(1) or 75K(7)(b) or (8)(b) of this Act for a person to be brought before a judicial officer or judge advocate;

(i) the appointment of persons to discharge administrative functions under the rules.

(3) Rules under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F107 S. 75M inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 8(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C15 S. 75M modified (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2366, arts. 2, 3, Sch. para. 5

Investigation of, and summary dealing with, chargesF274 U.K.

76 Investigation of charges by commanding officer. U.K.

Before an allegation against a person subject to military law (hereinafter referred to as “theaccused") that he has committed an offence against any provision of this Part of this Act is furtherproceeded with, the allegation shall be reported, in the form of a charge, to the accused’s commandingofficer and the commanding officer shall investigate the charge in the prescribed manner.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C16 S. 76 excluded by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), s. 19(4)

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

[F108 76A Powers of higher authority. U.K.

(1) Where a charge is referred to higher authority, the higher authority shall refer the case to the prosecuting authority unless he takes one of the steps mentioned in this section in relation to the charge.

(2) The higher authority may refer the charge back to the commanding officer of the accused with a direction to dismiss it or to stay all further proceedings in relation to it, and the commanding officer shall deal with the charge accordingly.

(3) If the charge is against a non-commissioned officer or soldier and is capable of being dealt with summarily, the higher authority may refer it back to the commanding officer of the accused to be so dealt with.

(4) If the charge is against an officer below the rank of lieutenant-colonel or a warrant officer and is capable of being dealt with summarily, the higher authority may refer it to the appropriate superior authority to be so dealt with.

(5) If the charge has been referred to the higher authority as a result of an election for court-martial trial, and that election has not been withdrawn with leave, he may not refer the charge back to the commanding officer of the accused, or (as the case may be) to the appropriate superior authority, to be dealt with summarily.

(6) This section has effect subject to any power of the higher authority under section 103A(1) below to direct that the charge be tried by a field general court-martial.]

Textual Amendments

F108 Ss. 76, 76A-76C substituted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of three commencing S.I.) for s. 76 by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 2; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F109 76AA Right to elect for court-martial trial. U.K.

(1) Before dealing summarily with a charge, the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority shall afford the accused the opportunity of electing court-martial trial in relation to that charge.

(2) Where in accordance with regulations under section 83 of this Act two or more charges are together to be dealt with summarily, any election for court-martial trial must relate to all the charges concerned.

(3) If the accused elects court-martial trial and does not withdraw his election with leave, the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority shall refer to higher authority the charge to which the election relates, with a view to the trial of the accused by court-martial.

(4) If a charge has been referred to higher authority as a result of an election for court-martial trial and that election is withdrawn with leave, the higher authority shall—

(a) if the accused is an officer or warrant officer, refer the charge back to the appropriate superior authority;

(b) if the accused is a non-commissioned officer or soldier, refer the charge back to the commanding officer of the accused,

for the appropriate superior authority or commanding officer to deal summarily with the charge.

(5) Subsection (1) above does not enable the accused to make a further election for court-martial trial in relation to a charge which has been referred back to the appropriate superior authority or commanding officer under subsection (4) above.

(6) Where under section 76B(3) of this Act a charge is amended or one charge is substituted for another, subsection (1) above applies in relation to the amended or substituted charge.]

Textual Amendments

F109 S. 76AA inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 11(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C17 S. 76AA(1) amended (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2366, arts. 2, 3, Sch. para. 8(2)

C18 S. 76AA(1) modified (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2366, arts. 2, 3, Sch. para. 8(1)(b)

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

[F110 76B Summary dealings. U.K.

(1) This section applies where a charge is to be dealt with summarily by a commanding officer or appropriate superior authority.

(2) References in this Act to dealing summarily with a charge are references to the taking of the following action, namely, determining whether the charge is proved and, accordingly, either dismissing the charge or recording a finding that the charge has been proved and awarding punishment.

(3) If, before determining whether the charge is proved, he considers it appropriate to do so, the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority may amend the charge or substitute another charge for it and treat the amended or substituted charge as the charge to be dealt with summarily by him.

(4) If, before determining whether the charge is proved, he considers that it should not be dealt with summarily, the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority may refer the charge to higher authority.

(5) If he determines that the charge has been proved, the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority shall, before recording a finding that the charge has been proved, afford the accused an opportunity of electing court-martial trial.

(6) If the accused so elects, the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority shall refer the charge to higher authority with a view to the trial of the accused by court-martial.

(7) If the accused does not so elect, or so elects but subsequently withdraws his election with leave, the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority shall record a finding that the charge has been proved and award punishment accordingly.

(8) If a charge has been referred to higher authority as a result of an election for court-martial trial, and that election is withdrawn with leave, the higher authority shall—

(a) if the accused is an officer or warrant officer, refer the charge back to the appropriate superior authority;

(b) if the accused is a non-commissioned officer or soldier, refer the charge back to the commanding officer of the accused,

for the appropriate superior authority or commanding officer to record a finding that the charge has been proved and award punishment accordingly.

(9) This section has effect subject to any power of the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority under section 103A(1) below to direct that the charge be tried by a field general court-martial.

(10) Nothing in this section or section 76A above shall be taken to prevent an officer from acting as both higher authority and appropriate superior authority in relation to a charge.]

Textual Amendments

F110 Ss. 76, 76A-76C substituted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) for s. 76 by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 2; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

[F111 76C Punishments available on summary dealings. U.K.

(1) This section applies where a commanding officer or appropriate superior authority records a finding that a charge against an accused has been proved.

(2) The commanding officer may award one or more of the following punishments—

(a) if the offender is a soldier, detention for a period not exceeding 60 days;

(b) fine;

(c) if the offender is a non-commissioned officer, severe reprimand or reprimand;

(d) where the offence has occasioned any expense, loss or damage, stoppages;

(e) any minor punishment for the time being authorised by the Defence Council.

(3) The appropriate superior authority may award one or more of the following punishments—

(a) except in the case of a warrant officer, forfeiture of seniority for a specified term or otherwise;

(b) fine;

(c) severe reprimand or reprimand;

(d) where the offence has occasioned any expense, loss or damage, stoppages.

(4) The commanding officer may not award a fine or minor punishment for an offence for which he awards detention.

(5) The appropriate superior authority may not award a fine for an offence for which he awards forfeiture of seniority.

(6) Except in the case of an offence against section 70 of this Act, the amount of a fine shall not exceed the amount of the offender’s pay for twenty-eight days.

(7) In the case of an offence against section 70 of this Act where the corresponding civil offence is a summary offence, the amount of a fine shall not exceed—

(a) the amount of the offender’s pay for twenty-eight days; or

(b) (if less) the maximum amount of the fine which could be imposed by a civil court on summary conviction.

(8) In the case of an offence against section 70 of this Act where the corresponding civil offence is an indictable offence, the amount of a fine shall not exceed—

(a) the amount of the offender’s pay for twenty-eight days; or

(b) (if less) the maximum amount of the fine which could be imposed by a civil court on conviction on indictment.

(9) A day’s pay shall be taken, for the purposes of subsections (6) to (8) above, to be the gross pay that is, or would (apart from any forfeiture) be, issuable to the offender in respect of the day on which punishment is awarded in respect of the offence.

(10) If the offender is a lance-corporal or lance-bombardier, the commanding officer may, if he awards no other punishment or no other punishment except stoppages, order the offender to be reduced to the ranks.

(11) If the offender is an acting warrant officer or non-commissioned officer, the commanding officer may, if he awards no other punishment or no other punishment except stoppages, order the offender—

(a) to revert to his permanent rank;

(b) to assume an acting rank lower than that held by him but higher than his permanent rank; or

(c) where his permanent rank is that of lance-corporal or lance-bombardier, to forfeit his acting rank and be reduced to the ranks.]

Textual Amendments

F111 Ss. 76, 76A-76C substituted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) for s. 76 by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 2; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

77 Charges to be dealt with summarily or by court-martial. U.K.

(1) After investigation, a charge against an officer below the rank of lieutenant-colonel or against awarrant officer may, if an authority has power under the following provisions of this Part of this Act todeal with it summarily, be so dealt with by that authority (in this Act referred to as “the appropriatesuperior authority") in accordance with those provisions.

(2) After investigation, a charge against a non-commissioned officer or soldier may be dealt with summarilyby his commanding officer, subject to and in accordance with the following provisions of this Part of thisAct.

(3) Any charge not dealt with summarily as aforesaid shall after investigation be remanded for trial bycourt-martial.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this section, where—

(a) the commanding officer has investigated a charge against an officer or warrant officer, or

(b) the commanding officer has investigated a charge against a non-commissioned officer or soldier whichis not one which can be dealt with summarily,

the commanding officer may dismiss the charge if he is of opinion that it ought not to be furtherproceeded with.

[F112 (4A) This section has effect subject to section 77A of this Act]

(5) References in this Act to dealing summarily with a charge are references to the taking by theappropriate superior authority or the commanding officer of the accused, as the case may require, of thefollowing action, that is to say, determining whether the accused is guilty, dismissing the charge orrecording a finding of guilty accordingly, and awarding punishment.

Textual Amendments

F112 S. 77(4A) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 3(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C19 S. 77 excluded by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), s. 19(4)

[F113 77A Power to stay further proceedings. U.K.

Where, in the course of investigating a charge, it appears to the accused’s commanding officer thatproceedings in respect of the matters to which the charge relates could be, and in the interests of thebetter administration of justice ought to be, taken against the accused otherwise than under this Act hemay stay further proceedings on the charge.]

Textual Amendments

F113 S. 77A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 3(3)

78 Further proceedings on charges against N.C.O.s and soldiers. U.K.

(1) The following provisions of this section shall have effect where the commanding officer has investigateda charge against a non-commissioned officer or soldier [F114 and has not stayed further proceedings thereon].

(2) If—

(a) the charge is not one which can be dealt with summarily and the commanding officer has not dismissedit, or

(b) the charge is one which can be dealt with summarily but the commanding officer is of opinion that itshould not be so dealt with,

he shall take the prescribed steps with a view to the charge being tried by court-martial.

[F115 (3) Otherwise, the commanding officer shall proceed to deal with the charge summarily; and if he recordsa finding of guilty, he may award one or more of the following punishments—

(a) if the accused is a soldier, detention for a period not exceeding [F116 60] days,

(b) fine,

(c) if the accused is non-commissioned officer, severe reprimand or reprimand,

(d) where the offence has occasioned any expense, loss or damage, stoppages, and

(e) any minor punishment for the time being authorised by the Defence Council:

• Provided that no fine or minor punishment shall be awarded for an offence for which detention isawarded:

• And provided also that the amount of a fine that may be awarded—

(a) except in the case of an offence against section 70 of this Act, shall not exceed the amount of theoffender’s pay for F117 twenty-eight days, and

(b) in the said excepted case—

(i) in any case, shall not exceed the amount of the offender’s pay for F117 twenty-eight days, and

(ii) where the said civil offence is punishable by a civil court in England only on summary conviction, andis so punishable by any fine of a maximum amount less than the amount limited by sub-paragraph (i) above,shall not exceed that maximum, and

(iii) where the said civil offence is punishable by a civil court in England on indictment by a fine of amaximum amount less than the amount so limited (whether or not it is also punishable on summary conviction)shall not exceed that maximum,

a day’s pay being taken for the purposes of this proviso, as regards a person found guilty of anyoffence, as the gross pay that is, or would (apart from any forfeiture) be, issuable to that person inrespect of the day on which punishment is awarded in respect of the offence.]

[F118 (3a) Where the accused is a lance-corporal or lance-bombardier, and the commanding officer finds him guilty,the commanding officer may, if he awards no other punishment or no other punishment except stoppages, orderthe accused to be reduced to the ranks.]

(4) Where the accused is an acting warrant officer or non-commissioned officer, and the commanding officerfinds him guilty, the commanding officer may, if he awards no other punishment or no other punishment exceptstoppages, order the accused to revert to his permanent rank [F119 or to assume an acting rank lower than that held by him but higher than his permanentrank][F120 or, where his permanent rank is that of lance-corporal or lance-bombardier, to forfeithis acting rank and be reduced to the ranks].

(5) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (3) of this section, where the commanding officer [F121 considers] that the accused is guilty and if the charge is dealt with summarily will award a punishment otherthan severe reprimand, reprimand or a minor punishment, or where a finding of guilty (whatever thepunishment awarded) will involve a forfeiture of pay, the commanding officer shall not record a findinguntil after affording the accused an opportunity of electing to be tried by court-martial; and if theaccused so elects and does not subsequently in accordance with Queen’s Regulations withdraw his election,the commanding officer shall not record a finding but shall take the prescribed steps with a view to thecharge being tried by court-martial.

(6) Where a charge is one which can be dealt with summarily, but the commanding officer has taken steps witha view to its being tried by court-martial, any higher authority to whom the charge is referred may referthe charge back to the commanding officer to be dealt with summarily; and on any such reference [F122 the four last foregoing subsections] shall apply as if the commanding officer had originally been of opinion that the charge should bedealt with summarily:

Provided that a charge shall not be referred back where the accused has elected to be tried bycourt-martial and has not withdrawn his election.

Textual Amendments

F114 Words added by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 3(4)

F115 S. 78(3) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 37(1), 78(4)

F116 Word substituted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 5(1)

F117 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 10

F118 S. 78(3A) inserted by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), s. 37(1)(2)(a)

F119 Words added by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), s. 22

F120 Words added by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 30(2)(a)

F121 Word substituted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), Sch. 2 para. 1

F122 Words substituted by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), s. 37(1)(2)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C20 S. 78 excluded by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20),s. 19(4); amended by ArmedForces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 5(2)

79 Further proceedings on charges against officers and warrant officers. U.K.

(1) After investigating a charge against an officer or warrant officer, the commanding officer shall, unlesshe has dismissed [F123 or stayed further proceedings on] the charge, or the case is one where he has power, and proposes, to direct trial by field generalcourt-martial, submit it in the prescribed manner to higher authority; and thereupon it shall be determinedby such authority how the charge is to be proceeded with in accordance with the two next followingsubsections.

(2) If the charge is one which can be dealt with summarily, it may be referred to the appropriate superiorauthority.

(3) If the charge is not so referred, the prescribed steps shall be taken with a view to its being triedby court-martial.

(4) Where the charge is referred to the appropriate superior authority, that authority shall investigatethe charge in the prescribed manner and determine whether the accused is guilty of the charge andaccordingly dismiss the charge or record a finding of guilty:

Provided that if in the course of investigating the charge the authority determines that it isdesirable that the charge should be tried by court-martial, the prescribed steps shall be taken with a viewto its being so tried.

[F124 (5) If the appropriate superior authority records a finding of guilty, the authority may award one or moreof the following punishments—

(a) except in the case of a warrant officer, forfeiture of seniority for a specified term or otherwise,

(b) fine,

(c) severe reprimand or reprimand, and

(d) where the offence has occasioned any expense, loss or damage, stoppages:

• Provided that the appropriate superior authority may not award both forfeiture of seniority and afine:

• And provided also that the second proviso to section 78(3) of this Act shall have effect as respectsfines awarded by virtue of this section as it has effect as respects fines awarded by virtue of the saidsection 78.]

(6) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (4) of this section, where the appropriate superior authority [F125 considers] that the accused is guilty and if the charge is dealt with summarily will award [F126 any punishment other than severe reprimand or reprimand], or where a finding of guilty will involve a forfeiture of pay, the authority shall not record afinding until after affording the accused an opportunity of electing to be tried by court-martial; and ifthe accused so elects the authority shall not record a finding but shall take the prescribed steps with aview to the charge being tried by court-martial.

Textual Amendments

F123 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 3(5)

F124 S. 79(5) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 37(2), 78(4)

F125 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), Sch. 2 para. 2

F126 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 1 para. 1(3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C21 S. 79 excluded by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), s. 19(4); amended by ArmedForces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 5(2)

[F127 80 Directions by higher authority for dismissal of charges or stay of proceedings. U.K.

(1) Notwithstanding anything in section 78 or 79 of this Act, where a charge has been referred to higherauthority with a view to its being tried by court-martial, or has been submitted to higher authority fordetermination how it is to be proceeded with, that authority may refer the charge back to the commandingofficer of the accused with a direction to dismiss the charge or a direction to stay all further proceedingsthereon; and the commanding officer shall deal with the charge accordingly.

(2) The reference back of a charge under subsection (1) above shall be without prejudice to the preferringof another charge if the higher authority has so directed or the commanding officer thinks fit.]

Textual Amendments

F127 S. 80 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 46

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C22 S. 80 extended by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 3 paras. 4(5), 6(2)

81 Confession of desertion by warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier. U.K.

(1) Where in accordance with Queen’s Regulations a warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldiersigns a written confession that he has been guilty of desertion, his commanding officer may, notwithstandinganything in the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act, submit the confession for the considerationof [F128 the Defence Council] or such officer not below the rank of brigadier as may beprovided by Queen’s Regulations.

(2) After considering any such confession [F128 the Defence Council] or such officer as aforesaid may direct that the offence shall not be tried by court-martial or dealtwith summarily by the appropriate superior authority or commanding officer, and if such a direction is giventhe period of his service as respects which he confesses to have been a deserter shall be forfeited.

(3)

F129 (4) Subsections (2) to (7) of section seventeen of this Act shall apply in relation to the forfeiture ofservice by virtue of this section subject to the following modifications:—

(a)

F130 (b) for references to the date on which the offender was convicted there shall be substituted referencesto the date on which the direction was given.

Textual Amendments

F128 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F129 Ss. 67, 75(3) and 81(3) repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt.I

F130 S. 81(4)(a) repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C23 S. 81(2) extended by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 4(1)

82 Officers who are to act as commanding officers and appropriate superior authorities. U.K.

(1) In this Act the expression “commanding officer”, in relation to a person charged with an offence, means such officerhaving powers of command over that person as may be determined by or under regulations of [F131 the Defence Council].

(2) [F132 The following persons may act as appropriate superior authority in relation to a personcharged with an offence, that is to say,—

(a) any general officer, flag officer, air officer or brigadier having power to convene generalcourts-martial; or

(b) such other general officer, flag officer, air officer or brigadier, or, where the Defence Council F133 so direct, colonel or naval or air force officer of corresponding rank, asmay be specified by or under regulations of the Defence Council]:

Provided that an officer under such rank as may be specified by regulations under this section shallnot act as appropriate superior authority where the accused is above such rank as may be so specified.

(3) Regulations under this section may confer on officers, or any class of officers, who by or under theregulations are authorised to exercise the functions of commanding officer power to delegate thosefunctions, in such cases and to such extent as may be specified in the regulations, to officers of a classso specified.

Textual Amendments

F131 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F132 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 23(1)

F133 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), Sch. 5 Pt. II

83 Limitation on powers of summary dealing with charges. U.K.

(1) The charges which may be dealt with summarily by a commanding officer, and the charges which may bedealt with summarily by an appropriate superior authority, shall be such as may be specified by regulationsof [F134 the Defence Council].

(2) In such cases as may be specified in that behalf by regulations of [F134 the Defence Council], the powers of a commanding officer or appropriate superior authority to award punishment shall besubject to such limitations as may be so specified.

Textual Amendments

F134 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F135 The summary appeal courtF274 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F135 S. 83ZA and the preceding cross-heading inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 14(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

F136 83ZA The summary appeal court. U.K.

(1) There shall be a court (in this Act referred to as “the summary appeal court") for the purpose of hearing appeals against findings recorded and punishments awarded by commanding officers and appropriate superior authorities on dealing summarily with charges.

(2) The court shall consist of—

(a) judge advocates appointed under section 83ZB of this Act, and

(b) officers qualified under section 83ZC of this Act to be members of the court.

(3) The court—

(a) may sit in two or more divisions, and

(b) may sit in any place, whether within or outside the United Kingdom.

(4) There shall be a court administration officer for the court, who shall be an officer (or other person) appointed by the Defence Council.

(5) The court shall sit at such times and in such places as may be determined by the court administration officer.

(6) The court administration officer shall perform such other functions as may be prescribed by rules under section 83ZJ of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F136 S. 83ZA and the preceding cross-heading inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 14(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F137 83ZB Judge advocates. U.K.

(1) Judge advocates in relation to the summary appeal court shall be appointed by the Judge Advocate General.

(2) No person shall be appointed under this section unless he is qualified under section 84B(2) of this Act for appointment as the judge advocate in relation to a court-martial.]

Textual Amendments

F137 S. 83ZB inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 15(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F138 83ZC Officers qualified for membership of summary appeal court. U.K.

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, an officer is qualified under this section for membership of the summary appeal court if he is a military officer who has held a commission in any of Her Majesty’s naval, military, or air forces for a period of not less than two years or periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than two years.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, rules under section 83ZJ of this Act may specify circumstances in which any other military officer or a naval or air-force officer is qualified under this section for membership of the court.

(3) The following are not qualified under this section for membership of the court—

(a) the court administration officer,

(b) an officer under the command of the court administration officer,

(c) the prosecuting authority,

(d) any person who has a general qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990,

(e) an advocate in Scotland or a solicitor who has a right of audience in the Court of Session or the High Court of Justiciary,

(f) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland,

(g) a person who has in any Commonwealth country rights and duties similar to those of a barrister or solicitor in England and Wales, and is subject to punishment or disability for breach of professional rules, or

(h) any person who is, or has at any time during the preceding five years been, a provost officer.

(4) In this section—

• “air-force officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s air forces and subject to air-force law;

• “military officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s military forces and subject to military law; and

• “naval officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s naval forces and subject to theNaval Discipline Act 1957.]

Textual Amendments

F138 S. 83ZC inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 16(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F139 83ZD Constitution of summary appeal court for appeals. U.K.

(1) For the purpose of hearing an appeal, the summary appeal court shall consist of—

(a) one of the judge advocates appointed under section 83ZB of this Act, and

(b) two officers qualified under section 83ZC of this Act for membership of the court.

(2) Subsection (1) above has effect subject to any provision made by virtue of section 83ZJ of this Act.

(3) The judge advocate for any appeal shall be specified by or on behalf of the Judge Advocate General.

(4) The other members of the court for any appeal shall be specified by or on behalf of the court administration officer.]

Textual Amendments

F139 S. 83ZD inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 17(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F140 83ZE Right of appeal. U.K.

(1) Any person in respect of whom—

(a) a charge has been dealt with summarily, and

(b) a finding that the charge has been proved has been recorded,

may appeal to the summary appeal court against the finding or against any punishment awarded (or against both).

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, any appeal must be brought within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date on which the punishment was awarded (“the initial period”) or within such longer period as the court may (before the end of the initial period) allow.

(3) The court may at any later time give leave for an appeal to be brought.

(4) On any appeal under this section, the respondent shall be the prosecuting authority.]

Textual Amendments

F140 S. 83ZE inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 18(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F141 83ZF Hearing of appeals. U.K.

(1) An appeal under section 83ZE of this Act against a finding shall be by way of a rehearing of the charge.

(2) An appeal under section 83ZE of this Act which relates only to the punishment awarded shall be by way of a rehearing in relation to the award of punishment.

(3) Except in such cases as may be prescribed by rules under section 83ZJ of this Act, appeals shall be heard in open court.

(4) Proceedings of the summary appeal court shall be conducted in accordance with the law of England and Wales.

(5) Rulings and directions on questions of law (including questions of procedure and practice) shall be given by the judge advocate.

(6) Any directions given by the judge advocate shall be binding on the court.]

Textual Amendments

F141 S. 83ZF inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 19(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F142 83ZG Powers of summary appeal court. U.K.

(1) On an appeal against a finding that a charge has been proved, the summary appeal court—

(a) may confirm or quash the finding, or

(b) in a case where the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority could validly have recorded a finding that another charge had been proved, may substitute for the finding a finding that that other charge has been proved.

(2) Where the court quashes a finding—

(a) the court shall quash any punishment which relates only to that finding (or to that and one or more other findings which are also quashed), and

(b) the court may vary any punishment which relates both to that and one or more other findings so as to award any punishment which—

(i) it would have been within the powers of the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority to award, and

(ii) in the opinion of the court, is no more severe than the punishment originally awarded.

(3) Where, on an appeal against a finding that a charge has been proved, the court confirms the finding or substitutes for it a finding that another charge has been proved, the court may vary the punishment awarded by the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority so as to award any punishment which—

(a) it would have been within the powers of the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority to award, and

(b) in the opinion of the court, is no more severe than that originally awarded.

(4) On an appeal against the punishment awarded, the court—

(a) may confirm the punishment awarded by the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority, or

(b) may substitute any other punishment which—

(i) it would have been within the powers of the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority to award, and

(ii) in the opinion of the court, is no more severe than that originally awarded.

(5) Any punishment awarded by the court shall have effect as if awarded on the day on which the original punishment was awarded on dealing with the charge summarily.

(6) Any finding substituted or sentence awarded by the court shall be treated for all purposes as having been made or awarded by the officer who dealt summarily with the charge.]

Textual Amendments

F142 S. 83ZG inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 20(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F143 83ZH Making of, and appeals from, decisions of court. U.K.

(1) Subject to section 83ZF(5) of this Act, any decision of the summary appeal court when constituted as mentioned in section 83ZD(1) of this Act shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members of the court.

(2) The person who brought the appeal may question any judgment of the summary appeal court on the ground that it is wrong in law or is in excess of jurisdiction, by applying to the summary appeal court to have a case stated for the opinion of the High Court in England and Wales.]

Textual Amendments

F143 S. 83ZH inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 21(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F144 83ZJ Rules of summary appeal court. U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may make rules for the purpose of regulating the practice and procedure to be followed in the summary appeal court.

(2) Rules under this section may, in particular, make provision—

(a) as to the practice and procedure of the court in exercising functions preliminary to or incidental to the hearing of appeals under section 83ZE of this Act;

(b) as to the bringing and abandonment of appeals;

(c) as to the procedure for applying for leave under section 83ZE(2) or (3) of this Act;

(d) as to the procedure for applying for leave, or making a reference, under section 115(5A) or (5B) of this Act;

(e) as to consultation by the court administration officer with the Judge Advocate General before specifying where the court is to sit;

(f) as to circumstances in which the jurisdiction of the court may be exercised by a judge advocate appointed under section 83ZB of this Act sitting alone;

(g) enabling an uncontested appeal to be determined without a hearing;

(h) as to the convening and constitution of the court to hear any appeal;

(i) as to circumstances in which officers otherwise qualified under section 83ZC of this Act are ineligible to hear particular appeals;

(j) enabling the appellant to object to members of the court;

(k) as to the representation of the appellant on the hearing of appeals under section 83ZE of this Act and at any preliminary proceedings;

(l) as to the admissibility of evidence;

(m) as to the rehearing of an appeal where any member of the court originally constituted to hear it has been unable to continue hearing the appeal;

(n) as to procuring the attendance of witnesses at the hearing of appeals and at any preliminary proceedings;

(o) as to the administration of oaths;

(p) as to the recording of the proceedings of the court and custody of records of the proceedings;

(q) as to making copies of the records of proceedings available and as to the fees payable for such copies;

(r) as to the procedure for applying to have a case stated under section 83ZH(2) of this Act.

(3) Rules under this section may provide for any enactment which relates to the practice or procedure of courts-martial or to the admissibility of evidence in courts-martial to apply in relation to the court with such modifications as may be specified.

(4) Rules under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F144 S. 83ZJ inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 22(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F145 83ZK Administration of oaths to members of summary appeal court. U.K.

(1) Every member of the summary appeal court shall, before first sitting as a member of the court, have administered to him by the prescribed person in the prescribed manner an oath in the prescribed form.

(2) In subsection (1) above “prescribed” means prescribed by the Secretary of State by order made by statutory instrument.

(3) An order made under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F145 S. 83ZK inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 23(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F146 83ZL Privileges of witnesses and others. U.K.

A witness before the summary appeal court or any other person whose duty it is to attend on or before the court shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as a witness before the High Court in England and Wales.]]

Textual Amendments

F146 S. 83ZL inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 24(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

[F147 The prosecuting authority]F274 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F147 S. 83A-83C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

[F148 F149 83A The prosecuting authority. U.K.

(1) Her Majesty may appoint a qualified officer belonging to Her military forces to be the prosecuting authority for the Army; and in this Act “the prosecuting authority” means the officer so appointed.

(2) An officer shall not be qualified to be appointed as the prosecuting authority unless he is—

(a) a person who has a ten year general qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the M14 Courts and Legal Services Act 1990;

(b) an advocate or solicitor in Scotland of at least ten years’ standing; or

(c) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland, or a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland, of at least ten years’ standing.

Textual Amendments

F148 Ss. 83A-83C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

F149 S. 83A-83C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Marginal Citations

M14 1990 c. 41.

F150 83B Functions of the prosecuting authority. U.K.

(1) This section applies where a case has been referred to the prosecuting authority.

(2) If the case has been referred to him as a result of an election for court-martial trial, and that election is withdrawn with leave, the prosecuting authority shall—

(a) if the accused is an officer or warrant officer, refer the case to the appropriate superior authority;

(b) if the accused is a non-commissioned officer or soldier, refer the case to the commanding officer of the accused,

for the appropriate superior authority or commanding officer to record a finding that the preliminary charge has been proved and award punishment accordingly.

(3) In subsection (2) above “the preliminary charge” means the charge for which punishment would have been awarded had the accused not elected court-martial trial.

(4) If the prosecuting authority considers that court-martial proceedings under this Act should be instituted, he shall—

(a) determine any charge to be preferred and (subject to subsection (5) below) whether any such charge is to be tried by general court-martial or district court-martial; and

(b) prefer any charge so determined by him.

(5) The prosecuting authority shall not determine that a charge against an officer be tried by district court-martial.

(6) The prosecuting authority shall, in accordance with rules under section 103 of this Act, notify the commanding officer of the accused and a court administration officer of any charge preferred and the description of court-martial by which that charge is to be tried; and the commanding officer shall, in accordance with any such rules, inform the accused accordingly.

(7) The prosecuting authority shall have the conduct of any court-martial proceedings under this Act against the accused.

(8) Without prejudice to any other power of his in relation to the conduct of the proceedings, the prosecuting authority may, in accordance with rules under section 103 of this Act—

(a) amend, or substitute another charge or charges for, any charge preferred;

(b) prefer an additional charge, or additional charges, against the accused;

(c) discontinue proceedings on any charge.

(9) The powers mentioned in subsection (8)(a) above may be exercised in relation to an amended or substituted charge as well as in relation to any charge preferred by the prosecuting authority.

(10) The prosecuting authority may not exercise any power mentioned in subsection (8)(a) or (c) above in relation to any charge against the accused after the commencement of the trial of that charge unless the court-martial gives him leave to do so.

(11) If, before the commencement of the trial of a charge against the accused (“the original charge"), the prosecuting authority exercises the power mentioned in subsection (8)(b) above, he may, in accordance with rules under section 103 of this Act, direct any additional charge to be tried by the court-martial convened to try the original charge; and where he does so, subsection (6) above shall apply with such exceptions and modifications as may be prescribed.

(12) The prosecuting authority may not exercise the power mentioned in subsection (8)(b) above after the commencement of the trial of a charge against the accused unless the court-martial gives him leave to do so; and where the prosecuting authority exercises that power with the leave of the court-martial, the court may try any additional charge preferred.

(13) If, before the commencement of the trial of any charge, the prosecuting authority discontinues proceedings on that charge, he may direct that, for the purposes of section 134 of this Act, the accused is to be deemed to have been tried by court-martial for the offence charged.

(14) If, after the commencement of the trial of any charge, the prosecuting authority discontinues proceedings on that charge, the court-martial may give a direction such as is mentioned in subsection (13) above.

Textual Amendments

F150 S. 83A-83C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F151 83BB Cases where charge may be referred back to commanding officer. U.K.

(1) Where—

(a) a case has been referred to the prosecuting authority as a result of an election for court-martial trial, and

(b) the prosecuting authority considers that a charge different from, or additional to, the preliminary charge should be preferred,

the prosecuting authority may refer back to the commanding officer of the accused the charge or charges which the prosecuting authority considers should be preferred.

(2) In subsection (1) above—

(a) “the preliminary charge” means the charge which would have been dealt with summarily had the accused not elected court-martial trial, and

(b) the reference to preferring a charge different from, or additional to, the preliminary charge includes a reference to amending, or substituting another charge for, a charge already preferred.

(3) Where a charge is referred to a commanding officer under subsection (1) above, the commanding officer shall deal with the charge as if it had been reported to him under section 76(1) of this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F151 S. 83BB inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 13, Sch. 2 para. 3; S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C24 S. 83BB(1) modified (2.10.2000) by S.I. 1997/169, rules 6A, 13A (as inserted (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2374, rule 2(5)(6))

Yn ddilys o 28/02/2002

[F152 83BC Power of prosecuting authority to advise police forces U.K.

(1) The prosecuting authority may give advice to police forces on all matters relating to offences under this Act (including offences under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 which by virtue of subsection (1) of section 103 of that Act are treated for the purposes mentioned in that subsection as being offences under this Act).

(2) In this section “police force” means any of the following—

(a) the Royal Military Police;

(b) the Royal Navy Regulating Branch;

(c) the Royal Air Force Police;

(d) the Ministry of Defence Police;

(e) any police force maintained under section 2 of the Police Act 1996 (police forces in England and Wales outside London);

(f) the metropolitan police force;

(g) the City of London police force;

(h) any police force maintained under or by virtue of section 1 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967;

(i) the Police Service of Northern Ireland;

(j) the British Transport Police;

(k) the National Crime Squad.]

Textual Amendments

F148 Ss. 83A-83C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

F152 S. 83BC inserted (28.2.2002) by 2001 c. 19, s. 17, Sch. 1 para. 4; S.I. 2002/345, art. 2 (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3)

F153 83C Prosecuting officers. U.K.

(1) The prosecuting authority may delegate any of his functions to officers appointed by him as prosecuting officers.

(2) An officer shall not be appointed as a prosecuting officer unless he is—

(a) a person who has a general qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the M15 Courts and Legal Services Act 1990;

(b) an advocate or solicitor in Scotland; or

(c) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland.]

Textual Amendments

F148 Ss. 83A-83C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

F153 Ss. 83A-83C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 14; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Marginal Citations

M15 1990 c. 41.

Courts-martial: general provisionsF274 U.K.

84 Trial to be by general court-martial, district court-martial or in certain cases field generalcourt-martial. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a charge which is to be tried by court-martial shall be triedeither by general court-martial or by district court-martial.

(2) Where the officer commanding a body of the regular forces on active service—

(a) being an officer (whether military, naval or air-force) to whom under subsection (1) of sectionseventy-nine of this Act a charge has been submitted for determining how it is to be dealt with, or

(b) being the accused’s commanding officer who has investigated a charge which cannot be dealt withsummarily or which in his opinion ought not to be so dealt with, or

(c) being the accused’s commanding officer or the appropriate superior authority who has investigated acharge on which the accused has elected to be tried by court-martial,

is of opinion that it is not possible without serious detriment to the public service that the chargeshould be tried by a general or district court-martial, the officer may (whether or not he is authorisedto convene general courts-martial) direct that the charge shall be tried by a field general court-martial.

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

[F154 84A Court administration officers. U.K.

In this Act—

• “court administration officer” means an officer (or other person) appointed by the Defence Council to convene general and district courts-martial and perform such other functions as may be prescribed; and

• “the court administration officer”, in relation to a court-martial, means the court administration officer who convened the court-martial and includes his successor or any person for the time being exercising his or his successor’s functions.]

Textual Amendments

F154 S. 84A-84D inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 19; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

F155 84B Judge advocates. U.K.

(1) In this Act “the judge advocate”, in relation to a court-martial, means the judge advocate appointed by or on behalf of the Judge Advocate General to be a member of the court-martial.

(2) No person shall be appointed as the judge advocate unless he is—

(a) a person who has a five year general qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the M16 Courts and Legal Services Act 1990;

(b) an advocate in Scotland of at least five years’ standing or a solicitor who has had a right of audience in the Court of Session or the High Court of Justiciary for at least five years; or

(c) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least five years’ standing.

(3) Rulings and directions on questions of law (including questions of procedure and practice) shall be given by the judge advocate.

(4) Any directions given by the judge advocate shall be binding on the court.

Textual Amendments

F155 S. 84A-84D inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 19; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Marginal Citations

M16 1990 c. 41.

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

F156 84C Convening of general and district courts-martial. U.K.

(1) On being notified by the prosecuting authority of the charge preferred and the description of court-martial by which the charge is to be tried, a court administration officer shall by order convene a court-martial of that description.

(2) The order convening the court-martial shall specify—

(a) the date, time and place at which the court-martial is to sit;

(b) the officers who are to be members of the court-martial;

(c) which of those officers is to be president of the court-martial;

(d) any other officers appointed for the purpose of filling vacancies,

and shall state that a judge advocate appointed by or on behalf of the Judge Advocate General is to be a member of the court-martial.

(3) At any time before the commencement of the trial, the court administration officer may, in accordance with rules under section 103 of this Act, amend or withdraw the order convening the court-martial.

(4) The following shall not be eligible to be members of a court-martial for the trial of a charge—

(a) the court administration officer;

(b) an officer who at any time between the date on which the preliminary charge was reported to the commanding officer of the accused and the date of the trial has been the commanding officer of the accused;

(c) the higher authority to whom the preliminary charge against the accused was referred;

(d) any other officer who has investigated the subject matter of the charge against the accused;

(e) any other officer who under this Act has held, or has acted as one of the persons holding, an inquiry into matters relating to the subject matter of the charge against the accused.

(5) In subsection (4) above “the preliminary charge” means the charge referred to higher authority by the commanding officer of the accused.

Textual Amendments

F156 S. 84A-84D inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 19; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

F157 84D Constitution of general and district courts-martial. U.K.

(1) A general court-martial shall consist of the president, not less than four other military officers and the judge advocate.

(2) A district court-martial shall consist of the president, not less than two other military officers and the judge advocate.

(3) An officer shall not be appointed a member of a general court-martial unless he has held a commission in any of Her Majesty’s naval, military or air forces for a period of not less than three years or for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than three years.

(4) An officer shall not be appointed a member of a district court-martial unless he has held a commission in any of Her Majesty’s naval, military or air forces for a period of not less than two years or for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than two years.

(5) Not less than four of the members of a general court-martial shall be of a rank not below that of captain.

(6) A general court-martial for the trial of an officer above the rank of captain shall not include any member below the rank of captain.

(7) The president of a general or district court-martial shall not be below the rank of field officer unless in the opinion of the court administration officer a field officer having suitable qualifications is not, with due regard to the public service, available; and in any event the president of such a court-martial shall not be below the rank of captain.

(8) If, in the opinion of the court administration officer, the necessary number of military officers having suitable qualifications is not, with due regard to the public service, available, he may appoint as any member of the court (but not as its president) any naval or air-force officer of corresponding rank to that required for a military officer.

(9) In this section—

• “air-force officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s air forces and subject to air-force law;

• “military officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s military forces and subject to military law; and

• “naval officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s naval forces and subject to the M17 Naval Discipline Act 1957.

Textual Amendments

F157 S. 84A-84D inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 19; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Marginal Citations

M17 1957 c. 53.

85 Powers of different descriptions of court-martial. U.K.

(1) A general court-martial shall have power to try any person subject to military law for any offence whichunder this Act is triable by court-martial, and to award for any such offence any punishment authorised bythis Act for that offence.

(2) A district court-martial shall have the powers of a general court-martial except that it shall not tryan officer or sentence a warrant officer to imprisonment, discharge with ignominy, dismissal or detention,and shall not award the punishment of death or of imprisonment for a term exceeding two years [F158 or make an order committing a person to be detained under section 71AA of this Actfor a period exceeding two years].

(3) A field general court-martial shall have the powers of a general court-martial, except that where thecourt consists of less than three officers the sentence shall not exceed imprisonment for a term of twoyears [F159 or detention under section 71AA of this Act for a period of two years].

Textual Amendments

F158 Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para.5(a)

F159 Words inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 58, Sch. 8 para.5(b)

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F160 85A Powers of court-martial where accused elected court-martial trial. U.K.

(1) Where a court-martial tries a person in pursuance of an election for court-martial trial, the court shall not award any punishment which could not have been awarded by the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority who would have dealt summarily with the preliminary charge if the election had not been made.

(2) In subsection (1) above “the preliminary charge” means the charge which would have been dealt with summarily had the accused not elected court-martial trial.

(3) For the purposes of this section a court-martial is not to be regarded as trying a person in pursuance of an election for court-martial trial if, since the election was made, the prosecuting authority has referred the charge back to the commanding officer under section 83BB of this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F160 S. 85A inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 12(1); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 15)

86 Officers having power to convene courts-martial. U.K.

(1) A general court-martial may be convened by any qualified officer authorised by Her Majesty by warrantunder Her sign manual to convene general courts-martial or that court-martial, [F161 or by any officer to whom a qualified officer so authorised has delegated his powerunder the warrant, being an officer under the command of the qualified officer and not below the rank ofcolonel.]

(2) A district court-martial may be convened by an officer authorised to convene general courts-martial,by any person, not below the rank of captain, under the command of such an officer whom that officer hasauthorised to convene district courts-martial, by any general officer or brigadier commanding a body oftroops or by any officer for the time being acting in the place of such a general officer or brigadier.

(3) A field general court-martial may be convened by the officer who directed that the charge should betried by field general court-martial.

(4)

F162 (5) In this section the expression “qualified officer” means any officer not below the rank of field officer or correspondingrank who—

(a) is in command of a body of the regular forces, or

(b) is in command of the command within which the person to be tried is serving.

(6) Any warrant under this section, or any authorisation under this section to convene courts-martial—

(a) may be made subject to restrictions, reservations, exceptions or conditions;

(b) may be addressed to officers by name or by designation of their offices, and may be issued or given toa named or designated officer, to a named or designated officer and to the person for the time beingperforming the duties of his office, to a named or designated officer and his successors in that office orto a named or designated officer and such person and successors;

(c) may be varied or may be revoked, either wholly or in part, by a subsequent warrant of Her Majesty or,as the case may be, by the officer by whom it was given or his successor in office.

(7) Where an officer on board ship—

(a) has had power to convene general courts-martial delegated to him by an officer under whose command hewas before the departure of the ship, or

(b) has been authorised under subsection (2) of this section to convene district courts-martial by such anofficer,

he may convene courts-martial to the like extent as if he had continued under the command of theofficer delegating the power or granting the authorisation.

Textual Amendments

F161 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 48(1)

F162 S. 86(4) repealed by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 10

87 Constitution of general courts-martial. U.K.

(1) A general court-martial shall consist of the president and not less than four other officers.

(2) Save as hereinafter provided, an officer shall not be appointed a member of a general court-martialunless he belongs to Her Majesty’s military forces, is subject to military law and has held a commissionin [F163 any of Her Majesty’s naval, military or air forces] for a period of not less than three years or for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less thanthree years.

(3) Not less than four of the members of a general court-martial shall be of a rank not below that ofcaptain.

(4) The president of a general court-martial shall be appointed by order of the convening officer and shallnot be under the rank of field officer unless in the opinion of the convening officer a field officer havingsuitable qualifications is not, with due regard to the public service, available; and in any event thepresident of a general court-martial shall not be under the rank of captain.

(5) The members of a general court-martial, other than the president, shall be appointed by order of theconvening officer or in such other manner as may be prescribed.

(6) An officer under the rank of captain shall not be a member of a general court-martial for the trial ofan officer above that rank.

Textual Amendments

F163 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 24

88 Constitution of district courts-martial. U.K.

(1) A district court-martial shall consist of the president and not less than two other officers.

(2) Save as hereinafter provided, an officer shall not be appointed to be a member of a districtcourt-martial unless he belongs to Her Majesty’s military forces, is subject to military law and has helda commission in [F164 any of Her Majesty’s naval, military or air forces] for a period of not less than two years or for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less thantwo years.

(3) The president of a district court-martial shall be appointed by order of the convening officer and shallnot be under the rank of field officer unless in the opinion of the convening officer a field officer havingsuitable qualifications is not, with due regard to the public service, available; and in any event thepresident of a district court-martial shall not be under the rank of captain.

(4) The members of a district court-martial, other than the president, shall be appointed by order of theconvening officer or in such other manner as may be prescribed.

Textual Amendments

F164 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 24

89 Constitution of field general courts-martial. U.K.

(1) A field general court-martial shall consist of the president and not less than two other officers, or,if the convening officer is of opinion that three officers having suitable qualifications are not availablewithout serious detriment to the public service, shall consist of the president and one other officer.

(2) Save as hereinafter provided, the members of a field general court-martial shall be persons belongingto Her Majesty’s military forces and subject to military law.

(3) The president of a field general court-martial shall be an officer appointed by the convening officerand shall not be under the rank of captain.

(4) The members of a field general court-martial, other than the president, shall be appointed by order ofthe convening officer or in such other manner as may be prescribed.

90 Supplementary provisions as to constitution of courts-martial. U.K.

(1) The officer who convened a court-martial shall not be a member of that court-martial:

Provided that if in the case of a field general court-martial it is not practicable in the opinionof the convening officer to appoint another officer as president, he may himself be president of thecourt-martial.

(2) An officer who at any time between the date on which the accused was charged with the offence and thedate of the trial has been the commanding officer of the accused, and any other officer who has investigatedthe charge against the accused, or who under this Act has held, or has acted as one of the persons holding,an inquiry into matters relating to the subject matter of the charge against the accused, shall not sit asa member of a general or district court-martial or act as judge advocate at such a court-martial.

(3) If any court-martial is required to be convened at any place where in the opinion of the conveningofficer the necessary number of military officers having suitable qualifications is not available to formthe court, and cannot be made available with due regard to the public service, the convening officer may,with the consent of the proper naval or air-force authority, appoint any naval or air-force officer aspresident in lieu of a military officer or as any other member of the court in lieu of or in addition toa military officer or military officers:

Provided that no naval or air-force officer shall be qualified to act in relation to a court-martialunless he is of corresponding rank to that which would have been required in the case of a military officerand has held a commission in [F165 any of Her Majesty’s naval, military or air forces] for the like period or periods as would have been so required.

(4) Where—

(a) the officer convening a general or district court-martial appoints a captain to be president, being ofopinion that a field officer having suitable qualifications is not with due regard to the public serviceavailable;

(b) an officer directs that an offender shall be tried by a field general court-martial, being of opinionthat it is not possible without serious detriment to the public service that the offender should be triedby a general or district court-martial, or the officer convening a field general court-martial appoints twoofficers only to be members of the court, being of opinion that three officers having suitablequalifications are not without serious detriment to the public service available, or appoints himself tobe president, being of opinion that it is not practicable to appoint another officer as president, or

(c) the officer convening any court-martial appoints an officer not being a military officer as presidentor any other member of the court, being of opinion that the necessary number of military officers havingsuitable qualifications is not available to form the court and cannot be made available with due regard tothe public service,

the order convening the court-martial shall contain a statement of the said opinion, and that statementshall be conclusive.

(5) In this section the expression “military officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s military forces and subjectto military law.

Textual Amendments

F165 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 24

91 Place for sitting of courts-martial and adjournment to other places. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a court-martial shall sit at such place (whether within orwithout Her Majesty’s dominions) as may be specified in the order convening the court; and the conveningofficer may convene it to sit [F166 at any place, whether or not, in the case of an officer having a command, within thelimits of his command].

(2) A court-martial sitting at any place shall if the convening officer directs it to sit at some otherplace, and may without any such direction if it appears to the court requisite in the interests of justiceto sit at some other place, adjourn for the purpose of sitting at that other place.

Textual Amendments

F166 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), Sch. 2 para. 4

Courts-martial: provisions relating to trialF274 U.K.

92 Challenges by accused. U.K.

(1) An accused about to be tried by any court-martial shall be entitled to object, on any reasonablegrounds, to any member of the court, whether appointed originally or in lieu of another officer.

(2) For the purpose of enabling the accused to avail himself of the right conferred by the last foregoingsubsection, the names of the members of the court shall be read over in the presence of the accused beforethey are sworn, and he shall be asked whether he objects to any of those officers.

(3) Every objection made by an accused to any officer shall be considered by the other officers appointedmembers of the court.

(4) If objection is made to the president and not less than one-third of the other members of the courtallow it, the court shall adjourn and the convening officer shall appoint another president.

(5) If objection is made to a member of the court other than the president and not less than one-half ofthe members entitled to vote allow it, the member objected to shall retire and the vacancy may, and ifotherwise the number of members would be reduced below the legal minimum shall, be filled in the prescribedmanner by another officer.

93 Administration of oaths. U.K.

(1) An oath shall be administered to every member of a court-martial and to any person [F167 , other than an exempted person,] in attendance on a court-martial as judge advocate, officer [F168 or other person] under instruction, F169 or interpreter.

[F170 (1A) In subsection (1) above “exempted person” means any person appointed under section 30 of the M18 Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1951 (assistants to Judge Advocate General) who is acting as judgeadvocate at the court-martial and was appointed so to act either by or on behalf of the Judge AdvocateGeneral or by the convening officer.]

(2) Every witness before a court-martial shall be examined on oath:

Provided that where any child of tender years called as a witness does not in the opinion of the courtunderstand the nature of an oath, his evidence may be received, though not given upon oath, if in theopinion of the court he is possessed of sufficient intelligence to justify the reception of the evidenceand understands the duty of speaking the truth, so however that where the evidence is given on behalf ofthe prosecution the accused shall not be liable to be convicted unless it is corroborated by some othermaterial evidence in support thereof implicating the accused.

(3) An oath required to be administered under this section shall be in the prescribed form and shall beadministered at the prescribed time by the prescribed person and in the prescribed manner.

Textual Amendments

F167 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 12(1)(a)

F168 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), Sch. 2 para. 5(1)

F169 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 10

F170 S. 93(1A) added by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 12(2)

Marginal Citations

M18 1951 c.46.

94 Courts-martial to sit in open court. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a court-martial shall sit in open court and in the presenceof the accused.

(2) Nothing in the last foregoing subsection shall affect the power of a court-martial to sit in camera onthe ground that it is necessary or expedient in the interests of the administration of justice to do so;and without prejudice to that power a court-martial may order that, subject to any exceptions the court mayspecify, the public shall be excluded from all or any part of the proceedings of the court if it appearsto the court that any evidence to be given or statement to be made in the course of the proceedings or thatpart, as the case may be, might otherwise lead to the disclosure of any information which would or mightbe directly or indirectly useful to an enemy.

(3) A court-martial shall sit in closed court while deliberating on their finding or sentence on any charge.

(4) A court-martial may sit in closed court on any other deliberation amongst the members.

(5) Where a court-martial sits in closed court no person shall be present except the members of the courtand such other persons as may be prescribed.

95 Dissolution of courts-martial. U.K.

(1) Where, whether before or after the commencement of the trial, it appears to the convening officernecessary or expedient in the interests of the administration of justice that a court-martial should bedissolved, the convening officer may by order dissolve the court-martial.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the last foregoing subsection, if after the commencement of thetrial a court-martial is, by reason of the death of one of the members or for any other reason, reducedbelow the legal minimum, it shall be dissolved.

(3) If after the commencement of the trial the president dies or is otherwise unable to attend and the courtis not reduced below the legal minimum, then—

(a) if the senior member of the court is of the rank of captain or corresponding rank or is of higher rank,the convening officer may appoint him president and the trial shall proceed accordingly; but

(b) if he is not, the court shall be dissolved.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, if after the commencement of thetrial it is represented to the convening officer that owing to the sickness or other incapacity of theaccused it is impracticable having regard to all the circumstances to continue the trial within a reasonabletime, the convening officer may dissolve the court.

(5) Where a court-martial is dissolved under the foregoing provisions of this section the accused may betried by another court.

96 Decisions of courts-martial. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, every question to be determined on a trial by court-martialshall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members of the court.

(2) In the case of an equality of votes on the finding, the court shall acquit the accused.

(3) A finding of guilty where the only punishment which the court can award is death shall not have effectunless it is reached with the concurrence of all the members of the court; and where on such a finding beingcome to by a majority of the members there is no such concurrence, the court shall be dissolved and theaccused may be tried by another court.

(4) Where the accused is found guilty and the court has power to sentence him either to death or to someless punishment, sentence of death shall not be passed without the concurrence of all the members of thecourt.

(5) In the case of an equality of votes on the sentence, or on any question arising after the commencementof a trial, except the finding, the president shall have a second or casting vote.

97 Finding and sentence. U.K.

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of section ninety-four of this Act, the finding of a court-martialon each charge shall be announced in open court.

(2) Any finding of guilty shall be, and be announced as being, subject to confirmation.

(3) Any sentence of a court-martial, together with any recommendation to mercy, shall be announced in opencourt, and a sentence of a court-martial shall be, and be announced as being, subject to confirmation.

98 Power to convict of offence other than that charged. U.K.

(1) An accused charged before a court-martial with an offence under this Act may, on failure of proof ofthe offence having been committed under circumstances involving a higher degree of punishment, be foundguilty of the offence as having been committed under circumstances involving a less degree of punishment.

(2) An accused charged before a court-martial with any offence may be found guilty of attempting to committhat offence.

(3) An accused charged before a court-martial with attempting to commit an offence may be convicted on thatcharge notwithstanding that it is proved that he actually committed the offence.

(4) Where an accused is charged before a court-martial under section seventy of this Act in respect ofattempting to commit a civil offence, he may be convicted on that charge notwithstanding that it is provedthat he actually committed the civil offence.

(5) Where an accused is charged before a court-martial with an offence against section seventy of this Act,and the corresponding civil offence is one in proceedings for which, if he had been tried by a civil courtfor committing the offence in England, he might have been found guilty of another civil offence, then ifthe court finds that he has committed that other civil offence he may be convicted of an offence againstsection seventy of this Act in respect of the commission of that other civil offence.

(6) An accused charged before a court-martial with an offence specified in the first column of the ThirdSchedule to this Act may be found guildy of an offence specified in relation thereto in the second columnof that schedule.

99 Rules of evidence. U.K.

(1) The rules as to the admissibility of evidence to be observed in proceedings before courts-martial shall [F171 , subject to section 99A below [F172 and to service modifications],] be the same as those observed in civil courts in England, and no person shall be required inproceedings before a court-martial to answer any question or to produce any document which he could not berequired to answer or produce in similar proceedings before a civil court in England.

[F173 (1A) In this section “service modifications” means such modifications as the Secretary ofState may by regulations made by statutory instrument prescribe, being modifications which appear to himto be necessary or proper for the purposes of proceedings before a court-martial; and it is hereby declaredthat in this section—

“rules” includes rules contained in or made by virtue of an enactment; and

“enactment” includes an enactment contained in an Act passed after this Act.

(1B) Regulations under subsection (1A) above may not modify section 99A below.

(1C) Regulations under subsection (1A) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution ofeither House of Parliament.]

(2)

F174 (3) A court-martial shall take judicial notice of all matters of notoriety, including all matters withinthe general service knowledge of the court, and of all other matters of which judicial notice would be takenin a civil court in England.

Textual Amendments

F171 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 11, Sch. 5 para. 3(a)

F172 Words inserted by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119(1), Sch.6 Pt. II para. 28(2)(a)

F173 S. 99(1A)–(1C) inserted by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95),s. 119(1), Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 28(2)(b)

F174 S. 99(2) repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), Sch. 7 Pt. I and Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), Sch. 5 Pt. II

[F175 99A Proof at courts-martial by written statement. U.K.

(1) [F176 Without prejudice to section 99 above, section] 9 of the M19 Criminal Justice Act 1967 (proof by written statement) shall applysubject to subsection (2) below and to service modifications, for the purposes of proceedings beforecourts-martial (whether held in the United Kingdom or not) as it applies to proceedings on indictment.

(2) The statements rendered admissible by this section are statements made—

(a) in the United Kingdom by any person, and

(b) outside the United Kingdom by any person who at the time of making the statement was—

(i) a person subject to service law, or

(ii) a person to whom Part II of this Act or Part II of the M20 Air Force Act 1955 is appliedby section 208A or section 209 of this Act or that Act respectively, or to whom Parts I and II of the M21 Naval Discipline Act 1957 are applied by section 117 or section 118 of that Act.

and the persons mentioned in this paragraph include persons to whom section 131 of this Act, section131 of the M22 Air Force Act 1955 or section 119 of the M23 Naval DisciplineAct 1957 apply.

(3) In subsection (1) above “service modifications” means—

(a) modifications made by any regulations under section 12 of the M24 Criminal Justice Act1967 in force on the coming into force of this section, and

(b) such modifications in the said section 9, as applied by subsection (1) above, as the Secretary of Statemay by regulations made by statutory instrument prescribe thereafter, being modifications which appear tohim to be necessary or proper for the purpose of the operation of that section in relation to proceedingsbefore a court-martial.

(4) Regulations under subsection (3)(b) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolutionof either House of Parliament.

(5) Section 89 of the said Act of 1967 (punishment of making false statements tendered under section 9)shall apply to any statement rendered admissible by this section.]

Textual Amendments

F175 S. 99A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 11, Sch. 5 para. 1

F176 Words substituted by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119(1),Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 28(3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C25 S. 99A(1)(2)(5) applied (with modifications) (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2371, rule 27(1)(b)(2)

Marginal Citations

M19 1967 c. 80.

M20 1955 c. 19.

M21 1957 c. 53.

M22 1955 c. 19.

M23 1957 c. 53.

M24 1967 c. 80.

100 Privilege of witnesses and others at courts-martial. U.K.

A witness before a court-martial or any other person whose duty it is to attend on or before the courtshall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as a witness before the High Court in England.

101 Offences by civilians in relation to courts-martial. U.K.

Where in the United Kingdom or in any colony any person not subject to military law—

(a) having been duly summoned to attend as a witness before a court-martial, fails to comply with thesummons, or

(b) refuses to swear an oath when duly required by a court-martial to do so, or

(c) refuses to produce any document in his custody or under his control which a court-martial has lawfullyrequired him to produce, or

(d) when a witness, refuses to answer any question which a court-martial has lawfully required him toanswer, or

(e) wilfully insults any person, being a member of a court-martial or a witness or any other person whoseduty it is to attend on or before the court, while that person is acting as a member thereof or is soattending, or wilfully insults any such person as aforesaid while that person is going to or returning fromthe proceedings of the court, or

(f) wilfully interrupts the proceedings of a court-martial or otherwise misbehaves before the court, or

(g) does any other thing which would, if the court-martial had been a court of law having power to commitfor contempt, have been contempt of that court,

the president of the court-martial may certify the offence of that person under his hand to any courtof law in the part of the United Kingdom or in the colony, as the case may be, where the offence is allegedto have been committed, being a court having power to commit for contempt, and that court of law maythereupon inquire into the alleged offence and after hearing any witnesses who may be produced against oron behalf of the person charged with the offence, and after hearing any statement that may be offered indefence, punish or take steps for the punishment of that person in like manner as if he had been guilty ofcontempt of the court to which the offence is certified:

Provided that where the offence is alleged to have been committed in the United Kingdom and thecourt-martial was held outside the United Kingdom, the certifying of the offence may be done by [F177 the Defence Council] or any officer authorised by them.

Textual Amendments

F177 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

102 Affirmations. U.K.

(1) If—

(a) a person required by virtue of this Act to take an oath for the purposes of proceedings before acourt-martial objects to being sworn, F178 , or

(b) it is not reasonably practicable to administer an oath to such a person as aforesaid in the mannerappropriate to his religious belief,

he shall be permitted to make a solemn affirmation in the prescribed form instead of taking an oath.

[F179 (2) A person who may be permitted under this section to make his solemn affirmation may also be requiredto do so, and for the purposes of this section “reasonably practicable” means reasonably practicable without inconvenience or delay.]

Textual Amendments

F178 Words repealed by Administration of Justice Act 1977 (c. 38), Sch. 5 Pt. III

F179 S. 102(2) added by Oaths Act 1961 (c. 21), s. 1; saved by Oaths Act 1978 (c. 19), s.7(4)(5)

Offences: procedureF274 U.K.

103 Rules of Procedure. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Secretary of State may make rules (hereinafter referredto as Rules of Procedure) with respect to the investigation and trial of, and awarding of punishment for,offences cognizable by courts-martial, commanding officers and appropriate superior authorities and withrespect to the confirmation and revision of findings and sentences of courts-martial.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the last foregoing subsection, Rules of Procedure may makeprovision with respect to all or any of the following matters, that is to say—

(a) the procedure to be observed in the bringing of charges before commanding officers and appropriatesuperior authorities;

(b) the manner in which charges so brought are to be investigated, and the taking of evidence (whetherorally or in writing, whether or not on oath and whether in full or in summary or abstract form) for thepurpose of investigating or dealing summarily with such charges or otherwise as a preliminary to the trialthereof by court-martial, so however that the Rules shall make provision for the application of sectionninety-three of this Act in any case where the accused requires that evidence shall be taken on oath;

(c) the addition to, or substitution for, a charge which has been investigated of a new charge for anoffence disclosed by evidence taken on the investigation and the treating of the investigation as theinvestigation of the new charge;

(d) the convening and constitution of courts-martial;

(e) the sittings, adjournment and dissolution of courts-martial;

(f) the procedure to be observed in trials by court-martial;

(g) the representation of the accused at such trials;

(h) procuring the attendance of witnesses before courts-martial and at the taking of evidence in pursuanceof rules made under paragraph (b) of this subsection;

(i) applying in relation to proceedings before commanding officers and appropriate superior authorities andotherwise in relation to proceedings prior to trial by court-martial all or any of the provisions of [F180 sections 99 to 102 above];

(j) empowering a court-martial or the convening officer, in such cases and to such extent as may beprescribed, to amend a charge which is being tried by the court;

(k) empowering a court-martial, where the particulars proved or admitted at the trial differ from thosealleged in the charge but are sufficient to support a finding of guilty of the like offence as that charged,to make a finding of guilty subject to exceptions or variations specified in the finding if it appears tothe court that the difference is not so material as to have prejudiced the accused in his defence;

[F181 (kk) directing that the powers conferred by section 7 of the M25 Bankers’ Books Evidence Act1879 (which enables orders to be made for the inspection of bankers’ books for the purposes of legalproceedings) may be exercised for the purposes of a court-martial (whether within or without the United Kingdom) by the authority by whom the court-martial is convened, as well as by the court or a judge within themeaning of that Act;]

(l) the forms of orders and other documents to be made for the purposes of any provision of this Act or theRules relating to the investigation or trial of, or award of punishment for, offences cognizable bycourts-martial, commanding officers or appropriate superior authorities or to the confirmation and revisionof the findings and sentences of courts-martial; and

(m) any matter which by this Part of this Act is required or authorised to be prescribed.

(3) Rules made by virtue of paragraph (j) of the last foregoing subsection shall secure that the power toamend charges shall not be exercisable in circumstances substantially different from those in whichindictments are amendable by a civil court in England, or otherwise than subject to the like conditions,as nearly as circumstances admit, as those subject to which indictments are so amendable, and shall not beexercisable by a court-martial (otherwise than for the purpose only of correcting a mistake in the name ordescription of the accused or a clerical error or omission) unless there is a judge advocate present at thetrial.

(4) Rules of Procedure shall not make provision with respect to the carrying out of sentences passed bycourts-martial or of other punishments awarded under this Part of this Act.

(5) A Rule of Procedure which is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act shall to the extent of theinconsistency be void.

Textual Amendments

F180 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), Sch. 2 para. 7

F181 S. 103(2)(kk) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 49(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C26 S. 103 amended by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 146, Sch. 13 para. 7

Marginal Citations

M25 1879 c. 11.

104 Rules as to exercise of functions of judge advocate. U.K.

(1) Rules of Procedure may make provision as to the exercise by a judge advocate of his functions at a trialby court-martial.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions of this section, Rules of Procedure maymake provision—

(a) as to the effect of advice or rulings given to the court by a judge advocate on questions of law;

(b) for requiring or authorising the president of a court-martial, in such cases as may be specified in theRules, to direct that questions of law [F182 or of law and fact mixed ]shall be determined by a judge advocate in the absence of the president and other members of the courtand any officers [F183 or other persons] under instruction, and for applying to the judge advocate and his proceedings on any suchdetermination such of the provisions of this Act relating to the court or its members and the proceedingsthereof as may be specified in the Rules.

(3) In the last foregoing subsection references to questions of law include references to questions as tothe joinder of charges and as to the trial of persons jointly or separately.

Textual Amendments

F182 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 49(1)

F183 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), Sch. 2 para. 5(2)

105 Taking of offences into consideration. U.K.

(1) Rules of Procedure may be made for determining the cases in which and the extent to which courts-martialmay, in sentencing an accused for any offence of which he is convicted, at the request of the accused takeinto consideration other offences against this Act committed by him.

(2) Where Rules of Procedure make such provision as aforesaid, they may also make provision for conferringon the court taking one or more offences into consideration power to direct the making of such deductionsfrom the offender’s pay as the court would have had power to direct if he had been found guilty of theoffence or offences taken into consideration as well as of the offence of which he was in fact found guilty.

106 Rules of Procedure to be subject to annulment. U.K.

The power to make Rules of Procedure shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subjectto annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

[F184 Field General Courts-MartialF274 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F184 Ss. 103A-103C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 31; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

F185 103A Field general courts-martial. U.K.

(1) Where an officer to whom this subsection applies—

(a) is commanding a body of the regular forces on active service; and

(b) is of opinion that it is not possible without serious detriment to the public service for a charge against a member of that body to be tried by a general or district court-martial,

he may direct that the charge be tried by a field general court-martial.

(2) Subsection (1) above applies to—

(a) the commanding officer who has investigated the charge;

(b) the commanding officer or appropriate superior authority who has determined on a summary dealing that the charge against the accused has been proved, in a case where the accused has elected court-martial trial and that election has not been withdrawn;

(c) where the charge is against an officer or warrant officer, the higher authority to whom the charge has been referred by the commanding officer.

(3) If an officer to whom subsection (1) above applies directs that a charge be tried by a field general court-martial, he shall by order convene a field general court-martial.

(4) The order convening the field general court-martial shall specify—

(a) the date, time and place at which the court-martial is to sit;

(b) the officers who are to be members of the court-martial;

(c) which of those officers is to be president of the court-martial.

(5) At any time before the commencement of the trial, the officer who convened the field general court-martial may, in accordance with rules under section 103C of this Act, amend or withdraw the order convening the court-martial.

(6) Subject to subsection (7) below, the officer convening the field general court-martial shall not be a member of the court-martial.

(7) The officer convening the field general court-martial may be its president if, in his opinion, it is not possible, without serious detriment to the public service, to appoint another officer as president.

Textual Amendments

F185 S. 103A-103C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 31; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

F186 103B Constitution of field general courts-martial. U.K.

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, a field general court-martial shall consist of the president and not less than two other military officers.

(2) If the officer who convened the field general court-martial is of opinion that three military officers having suitable qualifications are not available without serious detriment to the public service, the field general court-martial shall consist of the president and one other military officer.

(3) Unless the officer convening the field general court-martial is of opinion that a judge advocate is not available without serious detriment to the public service, a judge advocate shall be a member of the court-martial.

(4) In subsection (3) above, “a judge advocate” means a judge advocate appointed by or on behalf of the Judge Advocate General or, if the officer convening the field general court-martial is of opinion that no such judge advocate is available without serious detriment to the public service, a qualified officer appointed by that officer.

(5) An officer is “qualified” for the purposes of subsection (4) above if he is—

(a) a person who has a general qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the M26 Courts and Legal Services Act 1990;

(b) an advocate or solicitor in Scotland; or

(c) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland.

(6) The president of a field general court-martial shall not be below the rank of captain.

(7) If a field general court-martial is to be convened at any place where in the opinion of the officer convening it the necessary number of military officers having suitable qualifications is not available to form the court, and cannot be made available without serious detriment to the public service, the officer may appoint as any member of the court (but not as its president) any naval or air-force officer of corresponding rank to that required for a military officer.

(8) A field general court-martial shall have the powers of a general court-martial except that where less than three officers are members of the court the sentence shall not exceed imprisonment for a term of two years or detention under section 71AA of this Act for a period of two years.

(9) In this section—

• “air force officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s air forces and subject to air-force law;

• “military officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s military forces and subject to military law; and

• “naval officer” means an officer belonging to Her Majesty’s naval forces and subject to the M27 Naval Discipline Act 1957.

Textual Amendments

F186 S. 103A-103C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 31; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Marginal Citations

M26 1990 c. 41.

M27 1957 c. 53.

F187 103C Field General Court-Martial Rules. U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may by statutory instrument make rules with respect to field general courts-martial.

(2) Rules under this section may in particular—

(a) provide for any provision of this Act relating to general or district courts-martial or the proceedings of such courts-martial to apply to field general courts-martial or the proceedings of such courts-martial with the necessary modifications;

(b) make any provision with respect to field general courts-martial which may be made with respect to general and district courts-martial by rules under section 103 of this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F187 S. 103A-103C and cross-heading inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 31; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Confirmation, revision and review of proceedings of courts-martialF274 U.K.

107 Confirmation of proceedings of courts-martial. U.K.

(1) Where a court-martial finds the accused guilty on any charge, the record of the proceedings of thecourt-martial shall be transmitted to a confirming officer for confirmation of the finding and sentence ofthe court on that charge.

(2) A finding of guilty or sentence of a court-martial shall not be treated as a finding or sentence of thecourt until confirmed:

Provided that this subsection shall not [F188 require a sentence under section 57(2) of this Act to be confirmed or] affect the keeping of the accused in custody pending confirmation or the operation of the two nextfollowing sections or the provisions of this Act as to confirmation or approval.

Textual Amendments

F188 Words inserted (retrospectively) by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1),s. 16(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(b)

108 Petitions against finding or sentence. U.K.

At any time after a court-martial has sentenced the accused, [F189 or has found the accused to be unfit to stand his trial or to be not guilty by reasonof insanity] but not later than the prescribed time after confirmation is completed [F190 or, in the case of a sentence under section 57(2) of this Act, after the award of thesentence], the accused may in the prescribed manner present a petition against finding or sentence or both.

Textual Amendments

F189 Words inserted by Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84), s. 8(3) proviso (c),Sch. 2 Pt. I

F190 Words inserted (retrospectively) by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1),s. 16(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(c)

109 Revision of findings of courts-martial. U.K.

(1) A confirming officer may direct that a court-martial shall revise any finding of guilty come to by thecourt in any case where it appears to him—

(a) that the finding was against the weight of evidence, or

(b) that some question of law determined at the trial and relevant to the finding was wrongly determined.

(2) Any such direction shall be accompanied by the necessary directions for the re-assembly of the court,and shall contain a statement of the reasons for the direction.

(3) On any revision of a finding the court shall reconsider the finding, and (unless the court adheresthereto) may substitute therefor either a finding of not guilty or any other finding to which the courtcould originally have come at the trial in lieu of the finding under revision.

(4) On any such revision the court shall not have power to receive further evidence.

(5) Where on any such revision the court either adheres to the original finding or substitutes therefor afinding of guilty of another offence, or of the same offence in different circumstances, the court maysubstitute a different sentence for the original sentence:

Provided that the court shall not have power to substitute a sentence of a punishment greater thanthe punishment or greatest of the punishments awarded by the original sentence, or to substitute a sentencewhich in the opinion of the court is more severe than the original sentence.

[F191 (5A) The power conferred by subsection (5) above (as limited by the proviso to that subsection) shall alsobe exercisable by a court-martial notwithstanding that it substitutes a finding of not guilty for thefinding, or each of the findings, to which a direction under this section relates if the original findingsof the court included one or more findings of guilty to which the direction does not relate.]

(6) The confirming officer shall not have power to direct the revision of any substituted finding come toby the court on a previous direction of the confirming officer, or the revision of the original finding ifadhered to by the court on such a previous direction; but save as aforesaid this Act shall apply to theproceedings of the court on any such revision as it applies to their deliberations on the original findingor sentence, and any substituted finding or sentence shall be treated for all purposes as an originalfinding or sentence of the court:

Provided that the decision of the court on the revision shall not be required to be announced in opencourt.

Textual Amendments

F191 S. 109(5A) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 50(1)

110 Powers of confirming officers. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of the last foregoing section and to the following provisions of this section,a confirming officer shall deal with the finding or sentence of a court-martial either by withholdingconfirmation, if of opinion that the finding of the court [F192 is under all the circumstances of the case unsafe or unsatisfactory] or involves a wrong decision on a question of law or that, [F192 there was a material irregularity in the course of the trial], or by confirming the finding or sentence or referring the finding or sentence, or both, forconfirmation to a higher confirming officer.

[F193 Provided that the confirming officer may, notwithstanding that he is of opinion thathe would apart from this proviso withhold confirmation of the finding, confirm the finding if he considersthat no miscarriage of justice has actually occurred.]

(2) In lieu of withholding confirmation of the finding of a court-martial, a confirming officer may,if—

(a) some other finding of guilty could have been validly made by the court-martial on the charge before it,and

(b) he is of opinion that the court-martial must have been satisfied of the facts necessary to justify thatother finding,

substitute that other finding, and if he does so he shall consider in what manner, if at all, thepowers conferred by subsection (4) of this section should be exercised [F194 or a confirming officer may, if he is of opinion that the case is not one where thereshould have been a finding of not guilty, but that there should have been a finding that the accused wasunfit to stand his trial, substitute a finding that the accused was unfit to stand his trial.]

[F195 (2A) Where a court-martial has recorded no finding on one or more charges alternative to a charge on whichthe court has made a finding of guilty, a confirming officer, if he is of opinion that the court must havebeen satisfied of the facts necessary to justify a finding of guilty on the alternative charge or, as thecase may be, one of the alternative charges, may, instead of withholding confirmation of the finding—

(a) substitute for the finding a finding of guilty on the alternative charge, and

(b) substitute for the sentence of the court such sentence as he thinks proper, being in his opinion onewhich is not of greater severity than that for which it is substituted.]

(3) Where it appears to a confirming officer that a sentence of a court-martial is invalid, he may in lieuof withholding confirmation of the sentence substitute therefor a sentence of any punishment or punishmentswhich could have been awarded by the court, not being greater than the punishment or greatest of thepunishments awarded by the court and not in his opinion more severe than that punishment or thosepunishments.

(4) In confirming the sentence of a court-martial, a confirming officer may—

(a) remit in whole or in part any punishment awarded by the court; or

(b) commute any such punishment for one or more punishment or punishments provided by this Act, being lessthan the punishment commuted.

[F196 (4A) Where it appears to a confirming officer that a court-martial, in sentencing the accused for an offence,exceeded or erroneously exercised its powers under section 105 of this Act to take other offences intoconsideration, he shall, whether or not he substitutes a different sentence or remits or commutespunishment, annul the taking into consideration of the other offence or offences in question and any ordersdependent thereon; and where he does so, the offence or offences shall be treated for all purposes as nothaving been taken into consideration.]

(5) In confirming any sentence, a confirming officer may postpone the carrying out of the sentence for suchtime as seems expedient, and a confirming officer may extend or terminate any postponement ordered underthis subsection.

(6) A finding or sentence substituted by the confirming officer, or any sentence having effect after theconfirming officer has remitted or commuted punishment, shall be treated for all purposes as a finding orsentence of the court duly confirmed.

(7) The confirmation of a finding or sentence shall not be deemed to be completed until the finding orsentence has been promulgated; and in the event of any such substitution, remission or commutation asaforesaid the finding or sentence shall be promulgated as it has effect after the substitution, remissionor commutation.

(8) Where the confirming officer determines to withhold confirmation, the determination shall be promulgatedand shall have effect as from the promulgation thereof.

Textual Amendments

F192 Words substituted by Criminal Appeal Act 1966 (c. 31), Sch. 1 Pt. II (continued by SupremeCourt Act 1981 (c. 54), Sch. 5)

F193 Proviso added by Criminal Appeal Act 1966 (c. 31), Sch. 1 Pt. II (continued by SupremeCourt Act 1981 (c. 54), Sch. 5)

F194 Words added by Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84), s. 8(3) proviso (c), Sch.2 Pt. I

F195 S. 110(2A) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 50(2)

F196 S. 110(4A) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 5(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C27 S. 110: power to restrict conferred by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s.50(4)(b)

C28 S. 110(2)—(4) extended by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 3 para. 20(2)(c)

111 Confirming officers. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the following shall have power to confirm the finding andsentence of any court-martial, that is to say:—

(a) the officer who convened the court-martial or any officer superior in command to that officer;

(b) the successor of any such officer or superior officer, or any person for the time being exercising thefunctions of any such officer or superior officer;

(c) failing any such officer as aforesaid, any officer appointed by [F197 the Defence Council] to act as confirming officer, whether for the particular case or for a specified class of cases.

(2) The following shall not have power to confirm the finding or sentence of a court-martial, that is tosay:—

(a) any officer who was a member of the court-martial, or

(b) any person who as commanding officer of the accused investigated the allegations against him or who isfor the time being the commanding officer of the accused, or

(c) any person who as appropriate superior authority investigated the allegations against the accused:

Provided that a person excluded by the foregoing provisions of this subsection may act as confirmingofficer for a field general court-martial, if otherwise having power to do so, where he is of opinion thatit is not practicable, having due regard to the public service, to delay the case for the purpose ofreferring it to another confirming officer.

(3) A warrant or authorisation empowering the convening of a general or district court-martial may reservefor confirmation by superior authority findings or sentences or both in such circumstances as may bespecified by or under the warrant or authorisation, and the powers conferred by subsection (1) of thissection shall be exercisable subject to any such reservation.

(4) Where a person is found guilty by a court-martial held on board any ship and is disembarked before thefinding or sentence has been confirmed it may be confirmed by any officer under, or in the area of, whosecommand he is for the time being, being an officer having power to confirm courts-martial of the likedescription as that held on board the ship.

Textual Amendments

F197 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

[F198 Review of proceedings of courts-martial]F274 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F198 S. 112 and cross-heading substituted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 16, Sch. 5 para. 3; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

112 Approval as well as confirmation required for certain death sentences. U.K.

(1) A sentence of death confirmed by an officer below the rank of general officer shall not be carried intoeffect unless approved by a general officer or by a naval or air-force officer of corresponding rank, beinga naval or air-force officer commanding the command in which the person under sentence was serving at thedate of the sentence.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of the last foregoing subsection, a sentence of death passed by acourt-martial shall not be carried into effect in a colony unless approved by the Governor of the colony.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this section, sentence of death passed on aperson on active service may be carried out without such approval as is mentioned in subsection (1) orsubsection (2) of this section where in the opinion of the confirming officer it is essential in theinterests of discipline and for the purpose of securing the safety of the force with which the personsentenced is present that the sentence should be carried out forthwith, and the confirming officer statesthat opinion in the minute confirming the sentence.

113 Review of findings and sentences of courts-martial. U.K.

(1) A finding or sentence which has been confirmed [F199 or a sentence under subsection (2) of section 57 of this Act] may at any time be reviewed by a reviewing authority, and if [F200 a petition is duly presented under section 108 of this Act against a] finding or sentence then, subject to the provisions of this section, the finding or sentence shallbe so reviewed as soon as may be after the presentation of the petition and after consideration of thematters alleged therein.

(2) The reviewing authorities for the purposes of this Act are the following:—

(a) Her Majesty,

(b) [F201 the Defence Council], or (so far as the delegation extends) any officer to whom the powers of [F201 the Defence Council] as reviewing authority, or any of those powers, may be delegated by, or by regulations of, [F201 the Defence Council],

(c) any officer superior in command to the confirming officer.

(3) If an application for leave to appeal [F202 against conviction or sentence] is received by the registrar of the Courts-Martial Appeal Court or the said registrar receivesparticulars of such an application furnished in pursuance of [F203 section 9(4)(b) of the M28 Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968], so much of subsection (1) of this section as requires the review of a finding or sentence againstwhich a petition has been presented shall thereupon cease to apply to the finding to which the applicationfor leave to appeal relates and the sentence passed in consequence of that finding [F204 or, as the case may be, to the sentence to which the application relates].

(4) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) of this section, a sentence of death passed on a person onactive service and the finding of guilty in consequence of which it was passed shall not be required to bereviewed if in the opinion of the confirming officer it is essential in the interests of discipline and forthe purpose of securing the safety of the force with which the person sentenced is present that the sentenceshould be carried out forthwith, and the confirming officer states that opinion in the minute confirmingthe sentence.

(5) On a review under this section the reviewing authority may—

(a) in so far as the review is of a finding, quash the finding and, if the sentence relates only to thefinding quashed, the sentence;

(b) in so far as the review is of a sentence, quash the sentence;

[F205 (c) in any case, exercise the like powers of substituting findings, substituting sentences, remitting orcommuting punishment or annulling the taking of other offences into consideration (and orders dependentthereon) as are conferred on a confirming officer by subsections (2) to (4A) of section 110 of this Act;]

and any substituted finding or sentence, or sentence having effect after the remission or commutationof punishment, shall be treated for all purposes as a finding or sentence of the court duly confirmed.

(6) Where a reviewing authority exercises any of the powers conferred by the last foregoing subsection, thedetermination of the authority shall be promulgated and shall have effect as from the promulgation thereof.

Textual Amendments

F199 Words inserted (retrospectively) by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1),s. 16(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(d)(i)

F200 Words substituted (retrospectively) by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1),s. 16(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(d)(ii)

F201 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F202 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 2

F203 Words substituted by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), Sch. 4

F204 Words added by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 2

F205 S. 113(5)(c) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 5(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C29 S. 113: power to restrict conferred by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s.50(4)(b)

Marginal Citations

M28 1968 c. 20.

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

F206 113AA Powers of the reviewing authority. U.K.

(1) On a review under section 113 of this Act of a finding or sentence of a court-martial the reviewing authority has the following powers.

(2) In so far as the review is of a finding of guilt, the authority may—

(a) quash that finding and, if the sentence relates only to that finding, quash the sentence passed in consequence of that finding;

(b) substitute a finding mentioned in subsection (3) below if that finding could have been validly made by the court-martial and the authority is of the opinion that the court-martial must have been satisfied of facts which would justify the making of that finding;

and, where another finding is so substituted, the authority may pass any such sentence (not being, in the opinion of the authority, more severe than the sentence originally passed) open to a court-martial on making such a finding as appears proper.

(3) The findings referred to in subsection (2) above are—

(a) any finding of guilt which could have been validly made by the court-martial on the charge before it;

(b) if the court-martial recorded no finding on a charge alternative to a charge on which the court made the finding being reviewed, a finding of guilt on that alternative charge.

(4) In so far as the review is of a sentence, the authority may quash the sentence or substitute a sentence (not being, in the opinion of the authority, more severe than the sentence originally passed) which was open to the court-martial.

(5) In reviewing a sentence, the authority may—

(a) revoke an order made by the court under section 120A(1) of this Act;

(b) remit in whole or part any punishment awarded by the court;

(c) commute any such punishment for one or more punishments provided by this Act, being less than the punishment commuted.

(6) Where it appears to the reviewing authority that the court-martial, in sentencing the accused, exceeded or erroneously exercised its powers to take other offences into consideration, the authority shall (whether or not substituting a different sentence or remitting or commuting punishment) annul the taking into consideration of the other offence or offences in question and any orders dependent thereon; and where the authority does so the offence or offences shall be treated for all purposes as not having been taken into consideration.

(7) Any substituted finding or sentence, or sentence having effect after the remission or commutation of punishment—

(a) shall be treated for all purposes as having been made or passed by the court;

(b) shall be promulgated and shall have effect as from the date of promulgation.

Textual Amendments

F206 Ss. 113, 113AA substituted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) for s. 113 by 1996 c. 46, s. 16, Sch. 5 para. 4; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

[F207 113A Power of reviewing authority to authorise retrial. U.K.

(1) The following provisions of the M29 Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968, that is tosay,—

• section 19,

• section 20, and

• Parts II and IV of Schedule 1,

(power of Courts-Martial Appeal Court to authorise retrial and supplementary provisions applicable whenthe power is exercised) shall apply with any necessary modifications in relation to the review by HerMajesty or the Defence Council under section 113 of this Act of the findings of a court-martial, as theyapply in relation to an appeal to the Courts-Martial Appeal Court.

(2) Any document purporting to be an order or direction made or given by virtue of the foregoing subsectionby the Defence Council shall be evidence of the making of the order or the giving of the direction, as thecase may be, and of its contents.]

Textual Amendments

F207 S. 113A inserted by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), Sch. 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C30 S. 113A excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/172, art. 86

Marginal Citations

M29 1968 c. 20.

F208 114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F208 S. 114 repealed by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 16(2), Sch. 2

Review of summary findings and awardsF274 U.K.

115 Review of summary findings and awards. U.K.

(1) Where a charge has been dealt with summarily, otherwise than by the dismissal thereof, the authorityhereinafter mentioned may at any time review the finding or award.

(2) The said authority is—

(a) [F209 the Defence Council], or

(b) any military, naval or air-force officer superior in command to the officer who dealt summarily withthe charge, or

(c) any other officer being—

(i) a general officer or brigadier appointed by [F209 the Defence Council] to act for the purposes of this section in any particular case, or

(ii) a general officer or brigadier, or general officer or brigadier of a class, so appointed for any classof cases.

(3) Where on a review under this section it appears to the said authority expedient so to do by reason ofany mistake of law in the proceedings on the summary dealing with the charge or of anything occurring inthose proceedings which in the opinion of the authority involved substantial injustice to the accused, theauthority may quash the finding; F210 .

[F211 (3A) If a finding in any proceedings is quashed under the last foregoing subsection and the award made inthose proceedings relates only to the finding quashed, the authority shall also quash the award; and if theaward relates also to any other finding and it appears to the authority that the award was not warrantedby this Act in respect of that other finding, the authority may vary the award by substituting suchpunishment or punishments as the authority may think proper, being a punishment or punishments which couldhave been included in the original award in relation to that other finding, and not being in the opinionof the authority more severe than the punishment or punishments included in the original award.]

(4) Where on a review under this section it appears to the said authority that a punishment awarded wasinvalid, or too severe, or (where the award included two or more punishments) that those punishments or someof them could not validly have been awarded in combination or are, taken together, too severe, the authoritymay vary the award by substituting such punishment or punishments as the authority may think proper, beinga punishment or punishments which could have been included in the original award and not being in theopinion of the authority more severe than the punishment or punishments included in the original award.

Textual Amendments

F209 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F210 Words repealed by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), s. 25

F211 S. 115(3A) inserted by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), s. 25

Findings of insanityF274 U.K.

116 Provisions where accused found insane. U.K.

(1) Where, on the trial of a person by court-martial, it appears to the court that the accused is F212 unfit to stand his trial, the court shall so find; and if the finding isconfirmed in accordance with the following provisions of this section the accused shall be kept in custodyin such manner as may be provided by or under regulations of [F213 the Defence Council] until the directions of Her Majesty are known or until any earlier time at which the accused is fitto stand his trial.

[F214 For purposes of this subsection “unfit to stand his trial” means under any disability such as apart from the M30 Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 would constitute a bar to a trial on indictment in Englandor Wales.]

(2) Where, on the trial of a person by court-martial, it appears to the court that the evidence is such as,apart from any question of insanity, to support a finding that the accused was guilty of any offence, butthat at the time of the acts or omissions constituting that offence the accused was insane, the court shallfind that the accused [F215 was not guilty of that offence by reason of insanity], and thereupon the accused shall be kept in custody in such manner as may be provided by or underregulations of [F213 the Defence Council] until the directions of Her Majesty are known.

(3) In the case of any such finding as aforesaid Her Majesty may give orders for the safe custody of theaccused during Her pleasure in such place and in such manner as Her Majesty thinks fit.

(4) A finding under subsection (1) of this section shall not have effect unless and until the finding hasbeen confirmed by an officer who would have had power to confirm a finding of guilty come to by thecourt-martial in question and has been promulgated.

[F216 (4A) Where on the trial of a person by court-martial the question arises (at the instance of the defence orotherwise) whether the accused is unfit to stand his trial, the following provisions shall haveeffect:—

(a) the court, if having regard to the nature of the supposed disability the court is of opinion that itis expedient to do so and in the interests of the accused, may postpone consideration of the question untilany time up to the opening of the case for the defence, and if before the question falls to be determinedthe court finds the accused not guilty of the charge or each of the charges on which he is being tried, thequestion shall not be determined;

(b) subject to paragraph (a) above, the question shall be determined as soon as it arises;

(c) where the accused is found unfit to stand his trial, the trial shall not proceed or further proceed,but if the question is determined at a time later than on arraignment, the confirming officer or reviewingauthority may substitute a finding of not guilty (other than a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity),if of opinion that the court should before that time have come to such a finding.]

(5) . . . F212 the provisions of this Act as to revision, confirmation and review (andin particular the provisions of this Act which confer power to substitute for any finding any other findingwhich could have been come to by the court-martial in question) apply in relation to such findings as areprovided for by subsection (2) of this section as those provisions apply in relation to . . . F212 findings of guilty.

[F217 (6) Where the confirming officer or reviewing authority substitutes for a finding of not guilty by reasonof insanity a finding of guilty of an offence, the confirming officer or reviewing authority shall have thelike powers of sentencing the accused and other powers as the court-martial would have had on the likefinding of guilty, and any sentence imposed shall be promulgated and have effect as would a sentence dulysubstituted by the confirming officer or reviewing authority for a sentence of the court-martial:

Provided that the confirming officer or reviewing authority shall not have power by virtue of thissubsection to impose a sentence of death, and where apart from this proviso a sentence of death would berequired by law, the sentence shall (whatever the circumstances) be one of imprisonment for life.

(7) Where in pursuance of a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity a person is detained under [F218 section 46 of the Mental Health Act 1983], [F219 section 69 of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984] or [F220 Article 52 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986], and the reviewing authority quashes the finding (without substituting another finding), then if thereviewing authority is of the opinion—

(a) that the person in question is suffering from mental disorder ([F218 within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983]) of a nature or degree which warrants his [F221 detention in a hospital for assessment (or for assessment followed by medicaltreatment)] for at least a limited period; and

(b) that he ought to be so detained in the interests of his own health or safety or with a view to theprotection of other persons,

the reviewing authority shall make an order for his continued detention under the Act [F222 or Order]; and the order shall be sufficient authority for him to be detained, and the Act [F222 or Order] shall apply, as if on the date of the order he had been admitted to the hospital in pursuance of anapplication duly made under the Act [F222 or Order] (being in England or Wales an application for [F221 admission for assessment]).

In this subsection any reference to the Mental Health [F220 (Northern Ireland) Order 1986] or any provision thereof includes any corresponding Act or provision for the time being in force inNorthern Ireland.]

Textual Amendments

F212 Words repealed by Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84), s. 8(3) proviso (c),Sch. 2 Pt. I

F213 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F214 Words added by Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84), s. 8(3) proviso (c), Sch.2 Pt. I

F215 Words substituted by Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84), s. 8(3) proviso (c),Sch. 2 Pt. I

F216 S. 116(4A) inserted by Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84), s. 8(3) proviso(c), Sch. 2 Pt. I

F217 S. 116(6)(7) added by Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84), s. 8(3) proviso (c),Sch. 2 Pt. I

F218 Words substituted by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), s. 148, Sch. 4 para. 10

F219 Words substituted by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), s. 127(1), Sch.3 para. 5

F220 Words substituted by S.I. 1986/596, art. 4

F221 Words substituted by Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982 (c. 51, SIF 85), ss. 65(1),69(6), Sch. 3 para. 27, Sch. 5 para. 1

F222 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/596, art. 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C31 S. 116 extended by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), s. 16(2)(3)

Marginal Citations

M30 1964 c.84.

Saving for functions of Judge Advocate GeneralF274 U.K.

117 Saving for functions of Judge Advocate General. U.K.

Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act shall prejudice the exercise of thefunctions conferred (whether by Queen’s Regulations or otherwise) on the Judge Advocate General ofconsidering and reporting on the proceedings of courts-martial or any other functions so conferred on himin relation to such courts.

Commencement, suspension and duration of sentencesF274 U.K.

118 Commencement of sentences. U.K.

(1) A military sentence of imprisonment or detention F223 shall, subject to the [F224 following provisions of this Part of this Act and to][F225 section 11(2) of the M31 Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968] (which empowers the Court in certain cases to direct that a sentence shall begin to run from the dayon which the Court dismisses an application for leave to appeal), begin to run from the beginning of theday on which sentence was originally pronounced by the court-martial trying the offender or, as the casemay be, was originally awarded by his commanding officer.

(2) A sentence of imprisonment or detention passed by a court-martial on a warrant officer, non-commissionedofficer or soldier which is suspended in pursuance of section one hundred and twenty of this Act before hehas been committed to prison or a military establishment shall not begin to run until the beginning of theday on which the suspension is determined:

Provided that where the sentence is suspended by the confirming officer and the reviewing authoritydetermines the suspension, the reviewing authority may direct that the sentence shall run from such earlierdate, not earlier than the day on which sentence was originally pronounced by the court-martial, as thereviewing authority may specify.

Textual Amendments

F223 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I

F224 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 1 para. 1(4)

F225 Words substituted by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), Sch. 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C32 S. 118 excluded by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 3 para. 18(7)

Marginal Citations

M31 1968 c. 20.

Yn ddilys o 02/10/2000

[F226 118ZA Commencement of sentence of detention awarded by commanding officer. U.K.

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Part of this Act, subsections (2) to (4) below apply to a sentence of detention awarded by the offender’s commanding officer.

(2) If the offender so elects at the time of the award, his sentence shall begin to run from the day on which it is awarded.

(3) If the offender does not make an election under subsection (2) above or, having made such an election, withdraws it during the appeal period, his sentence or, in the case of withdrawal, the remainder of his sentence shall be suspended by virtue of this subsection—

(a) until the end of the appeal period, or

(b) where an appeal is brought within the appeal period, until the determination of the appeal.

(4) Where an appeal is brought—

(a) within the appeal period, by an offender who has made an election under subsection (2) above which has not been withdrawn, or

(b) after the end of the appeal period, by any offender,

the remainder of his sentence shall be suspended by virtue of this subsection until the determination of the appeal.

(5) In this section “the appeal period” means the period within which an appeal may be brought under section 83ZE(2) of this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F226 S. 118ZA inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 25, Sch. 3 para. 9; S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with Sch. para. 13)

[F227 118A Consecutive terms of imprisonment and detention. U.K.

(1) Where any person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment, whether passed under this Act or otherwise,is awarded a military sentence of imprisonment, or where a person who is awarded a military sentence ofimprisonment is further sentenced to imprisonment under section 57(2) of this Act, the court-martial by whomthe subsequent or further sentence is awarded may order that that sentence shall begin to run from theexpiry of the first-mentioned sentence.

(2) Where any person who is serving a military sentence of detention, or a sentence of detention passed onhim under the M32 Air Force Act 1955 or the M33 Naval Discipline Act 1957,is found guilty under this Act of another offence for which he is awarded a military sentence of detention,or where a person who is awarded a military sentence of detention is further sentenced to detention undersection 57(2) of this Act, the court-martial or officer by whom the subsequent or further sentence isawarded may order that that sentence shall begin to run from the expiry of the first-mentioned sentence.

(3) Where a person is convicted by a general court-martial or a field general court-martial of two or moreoffences against section 70 of this Act consisting in the commission of a civil offence for which a civilcourt in England could award imprisonment, the court-martial may by its sentence award, for any of the saidoffences, a term of imprisonment which is to run from the expiry of a term awarded by that sentence for anyother of those offences.]

Textual Amendments

F227 S. 118A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 39(1), 78(4)

Marginal Citations

M32 1955 c. 19.

M33 1957 c. 53.

119 Duration of sentences of imprisonment and detention. U.K.

(1) Where a warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier has been sentenced to imprisonment ordetention by a court-martial, and the sentence is suspended [F228 in pursuance of section 120 of this Act] after he has been committed to prison or a military establishment, the currency of the sentence shallbe suspended from the beginning of the day after the day on which he is released in accordance with [F228 the provisions of the said section 120] until the beginning of the day on which the suspension is determined.

(2) Where any person serving a military sentence of imprisonment or detention becomes unlawfully at largeduring the currency of the sentence, then, in calculating the period for which he is liable to be imprisonedor detained in pursuance of the sentence, no account shall be taken of time elapsing during the periodbeginning with the day on which he became at large and ending with the day on which, as a person havingbecome unlawfully at large, he is taken into naval, military or air force custody or the custody of a civilauthority or (not having been taken into such custody) returns to the place in which he was imprisoned ordetained before he became unlawfully at large:

Provided that if he satisfies such authority as may be specified in that behalf by or underImprisonment and Detention Rules that during any time during the last-mentioned period he was—

(a) in the custody of a civil authority, or

(b) if and in so far as Imprisonment and Detention Rules so provide, in the custody of any military, navalor air-force authority of any country or territory outside the United Kingdom as respects which arrangementshave been made under section one hundred and twenty-six of this Act,

the last-mentioned time shall not be disregarded in calculating the period for which he is liable tobe imprisoned or detained in pursuance of the military sentence.

(3) In the last foregoing subsection the expression “civil authority” means a civilauthority (whether of the United Kingdom or of any country or territory outside the United Kingdom)authorised by law to detain persons, and includes a constable.

(4) Without prejudice to subsection (2) of this section, where any person serving a military sentence ofimprisonment or detention has in accordance with Imprisonment and Detention Rules been temporarily releasedon compassionate grounds, then, in calculating the period for which he is liable to be imprisoned ordetained in pursuance of the sentence, no account shall be taken of time elapsing during the periodbeginning with the day after that on which he is released and ending with the day on which he is requiredto return to custody.

(5) A person who for any period is released as mentioned in the last foregoing subsection or who isotherwise allowed, in pursuance of Imprisonment and Detention Rules, out of any military establishment orotherwise out of military custody for any period or subject to any condition shall, on failure to returnat the expiration of the period or to comply with the condition, be treated for the purposes of subsection(2) of this section as being unlawfully at large.

(6) A person serving a military sentence of imprisonment or detention in civil custody who, after beingtemporarily released under civil law, is at large at any time during the period for which he is liable tobe detained in civil custody in pursuance of his sentence shall be deemed to be unlawfully at large if theperiod for which he was temporarily released has expired or if an order recalling him has been made inpursuance of civil law.

(7) References in the last foregoing subsection to release or recall under civil law are references torelease or recall in pursuance of rules made under subsection (5) of section forty-seven of the M34 Prison Act 1952, subsection (6) of section thirty-five of the M35 Prisons(Scotland) Act 1952, or paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section thirteen of the M36 Prisons Act (Northern Ireland) 1953, or (in the case of a person serving his sentence outsidethe United Kingdom) in pursuance of any corresponding provision of the law of the country or territory inwhich he is serving his sentence.

Textual Amendments

F228 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 1 para.1(5)

Marginal Citations

M34 1952c. 52.

M35 1952 c. 61.

M36 1953 c. 18(N.I.)

[F229 119A Limitation of total period of sentences of detention. U.K.

(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Part of this Act, no offender shall be kept continuously in detentionfor a period exceeding two years in pursuance of two or more sentences of detention.

(2) Subsection (1) above shall not affect the validity of any order or direction under this Part of thisAct that a sentence of detention shall begin to run from the expiry of another such sentence; but so muchof any term of detention to which any such order or direction relates as would prolong the total term ofdetention beyond two years shall be remitted by virtue of the order or direction.

(3) Where any person who has been sentenced by a court-martial (whether under this Act, the M37 Air Force Act 1955 or the M38 Naval Discipline Act 1957) to detention issubsequently sentenced by a court-martial under this Act to imprisonment, any part of the sentence ofdetention which has not been served shall thereupon be remitted by virtue of this subsection.]

Textual Amendments

F229 S. 119A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), ss. 40, 78(4)

Marginal Citations

M37 1955 c.19.

M38 1957 c. 53.

120 Suspension of sentences. U.K.

(1) The following provisions of this section shall have effect as respects the suspension of a sentence ofimprisonment or detention passed by a court-martial on a warrant officer, non-commissioned officer orsoldier.

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (5) of section one hundred and ten of this Act, in confirming such asentence the confirming officer may order that the sentence shall be suspended.

(3) Any such sentence which is not for the time being suspended may, on the review F230 of the sentence, be suspended by order of the authority reviewing F230 the sentence.

(4) The suspension of any such sentence may (without prejudice to its again being suspended) be determinedon the review F230 of the sentence by an order of the said authority committing the personsentenced to imprisonment or detention, as the case may be.

(5) Where, while any such sentence is suspended, the person sentenced is sentenced by court-martial toimprisonment or detention for a fresh offence then (unless the balance of the earlier sentence is remittedby virtue of [F231 section 119A(3)] of this Act)—

(a) the court may determine the suspension of the earlier sentence by an order committing the personsentenced to imprisonment or detention, as the case may be, and if so the court shall direct whether thetwo sentences are to run concurrently or consecutively;

(b) if the court does not exercise the powers conferred by the last foregoing paragraph, the confirmingofficer may exercise those powers on the confirmation of the later sentence;

(c) if neither the court nor the confirming officer exercises the said powers, a reviewing authority mayexercise those powers on the review of the later sentence;

(d) where the said powers are exercised (whether by the court, the confirming officer or a reviewingauthority), any power of suspension or remission exercisable in relation to the later sentence shall beexercisable also in relation to the earlier sentence:

F232 (6) Without prejudice to the further suspension of the earlier sentence, an order under the last foregoingsubsection directing that the suspension of that sentence shall be determined shall not be affected by thelater sentence not being confirmed or by its being quashed.

(7) Where the sentence of a person in custody is suspended, he shall thereupon be released [F233 and a sentence which has been suspended shall, unless the suspension has been soonerdetermined, be remitted by virtue of this subsection at the expiry of one year from the date on which thesuspension took effect].

(8)F234

Textual Amendments

F230 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 16(2), Sch. 2

F231 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 1 para. 1(6)

F232 Proviso repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I

F233 Words added by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 54(2)

F234 Ss. 120(8), 152(3), and 153(2) repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 4 Pt. II

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1997

[F235 120A Postponement of sentences. U.K.

(1) On passing any sentence a court-martial may order that the sentence shall not have effect until the end of the period specified in the order.

(2) On reviewing a sentence under section 113 of this Act, the reviewing authority may—

(a) if the sentence has not had effect, order that the sentence shall not have effect until the end of the period specified in the order;

(b) if the sentence has had effect, order that the sentence shall cease to have effect on the making of the order until the end of the period specified in the order.

(3) On exercising any power under section 113AA of this Act to pass or substitute a sentence, the reviewing authority may order that the sentence shall not have effect until the end of the period specified in the order.

(4) The Defence Council or any officer authorised by them may terminate the period specified in an order under this section or extend such a period for a further period specified by them.

(5) On the termination of such a period the sentence in respect of which the order in question was made shall have effect or (in the case of an order under subsection (2)(b) above) resume effect.

(6) Nothing in this section shall be taken to prevent section 118(1) of this Act from applying in relation to an air-force sentence of imprisonment or detention.]

Textual Amendments

F235 S. 120A inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 9(1); S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)

Execution of sentences of death, imprisonment and detentionF274 U.K.

121 Execution of sentences of death. U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations with respect to the execution of sentences of death underthis Act, whether passed in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the last foregoing subsection regulations under this section maymake provision with respect to all or any of the following matters, that is to say—

(a) the manner in which, the person by whom and the country or territory, place and kind of establishment(whether military or not) where any such sentence is to be executed; and

(b) the custody and treatment of the person under sentence and his removal from one place or establishmentto another between the passing and execution of the sentence,

or may authorise such persons as may be specified in or determined by or under the regulations to givedirections with respect to all or any of those matters.

(3) Such provost marshal or other provost officer not below field rank as may be specified in or determinedunder regulations under this section shall be responsible for the due execution of any sentence of deathpassed under this Act.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C33 S. 121 amended by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), s. 52

122 Imprisonment and Detention Rules. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Secretary of State may make rules (in this Part of this Actreferred to as Imprisonment and Detention Rules) with respect to all or any of the following matters, thatis to say—

(a) the places in which and the establishments or forms of custody (whether military or not) in whichpersons may be required to serve the whole or any part of military sentences of imprisonment and detentionpassed on them;

(b) the committal of persons under military sentences of imprisonment or detention to the appropriateestablishment or form of custody, their removal from one country or place to another and from oneestablishment or form of custody to another and their release on the coming to an end of any term ofimprisonment or detention;

(c) the provision, classification, regulation and management of military establishments;

(d) the classification, treatment, employment, discipline and control of persons serving military sentencesof imprisonment or detention in military establishments or otherwise in military custody;

(e) the temporary release on compassionate grounds of persons serving such sentences in such establishmentsor custody as aforesaid, the cases in which, periods for which and conditions subject to which they may beallowed out of any such establishment or custody and the remission of part of any such sentence for goodconduct and industry;

(f) the appointment, powers and duties of inspectors, visitors and governors, and of officers and othermembers of the staff, of military establishments.

(2) Imprisonment and Detention Rules shall not authorise the infliction of corporal punishment.

(3) Imprisonment and Detention Rules may apply with the necessary modifications all or any of the provisionsof sections thirty-nine to forty-two of the M39 Prison Act 1952 (which relate to offencesby persons other than prisoners).

(4) Imprisonment and Detention Rules may, to such extent as may be provided by the Rules, be made so as toapply to persons detained in military establishments while serving sentences of imprisonment or detentionawarded under [F236 the M40 Naval Discipline Act 1957] or the M41 Air Force Act, 1955, notwithstanding that such persons are not for the timebeing subject to military law.

(5) The Secretary of State may as respects any area in which persons subject to military law are on activeservice delegate his power to make Imprisonment and Detention Rules to the officer commanding the commandwithin which those persons are serving, subject to such restrictions, reservations, exceptions andconditions as the Secretary of State may think fit.

Textual Amendments

F236 Words substituted by virtue of Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), s. 137(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C34 S. 122 amended by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), s. 52

C35 S. 122(3) amended (E.W.) by Criminal Justice Act 1961 (c. 39), s. 22(3)

Marginal Citations

M39 1952 c. 52.

M40 1957 c. 53.

M41 1955 c. 19.

123 Supplementary provisions relating to regulations and rules under ss. 121 & 122. U.K.

(1) Regulations made under section one hundred and twenty-one of this Act or Imprisonment and DetentionRules may contain such incidental and supplementary provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to berequisite for the purposes of the regulations or rules.

(2) Any such regulations or rules as aforesaid made by the Secretary of State shall be made by statutoryinstrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

124 Restrictions on serving of sentences of detention in prisons. U.K.

A person shall not be required to serve any part of a military sentence of detention in a military orcivil prison:

Provided that in such cases and subject to such conditions as may be specified by or underImprisonment and Detention Rules a person serving such a sentence may be temporarily detained in a militaryor civil prison for any period not exceeding seven days.

125 Special provisions as to civil prisons in the United Kingdom. U.K.

(1) A person sentenced to death or imprisonment and committed or transferred to a civil prison in pursuanceof regulations under section one hundred and twenty-one of this Act or of Imprisonment and Detention Rulesshall while in that prison be confined and otherwise dealt with in the same manner as a person confinedtherein under a like sentence of a civil court.

(2) The M42 Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868, F237 shall apply in relation to the execution in a civil prison of a sentence ofdeath passed by a court-martial for any offence, but with the substitution in that Act for references tothe sheriff of references to the provost marshal or other provost officer responsible for the due executionof the sentence.

Textual Amendments

F237 Words repealed by Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 (c. 71), Sch.

Marginal Citations

M42 1868 c. 24.

126 Special provisions as to carrying out or serving of sentences outside the United Kingdom otherwise thanin military establishments. U.K.

(1) A Secretary of State may from time to time make arrangements with the authorities of any country orterritory outside the United Kingdom whereby sentences of death passed by courts-martial may in accordancewith regulations under section one hundred and twenty-one of this Act be carried out in establishments underthe control of those authorities and military sentences of imprisonment or detention may in accordance withImprisonment and Detention Rules be served wholly or partly in such establishments.

(2) The powers conferred on the Secretary of State by sections one hundred and twenty-one and one hundredand twenty-two of this Act shall extend to the making of such provision as appears to the Secretary of Statenecessary or expedient for giving effect to any arrangements made under the last foregoing subsection.

(3) The said powers shall be so exercised as to secure that no sentence of death passed by a court-martialshall be executed, and no military sentence of imprisonment or detention shall be served, in anestablishment in any country or territory outside the United Kingdom not being a military establishment,except in accordance with arrangements made as respects that country or territory.

127 Country in which sentence of imprisonment or detention to be served. U.K.

(1) A person who is serving a military sentence of imprisonment or detention in the United Kingdom may (inso far as may be specified by or under Imprisonment and Detention Rules) be removed out of the UnitedKingdom—

(a) to any colony in which he was enlisted; or

(b) to any place out of the United Kingdom where the corps or any part thereof to which for the time beinghe belongs is serving or is under orders to serve,

but not to any other place.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a person sentenced under this Act, by acourt-martial held out of the United Kingdom, to imprisonment or detention for more than twelve months shallas soon as practicable after the confirmation of the sentence is completed be removed to the United Kingdom.

(3) The last foregoing subsection shall not apply in relation to any person belonging to a class of personsspecified by or under Imprisonment and Detention Rules as persons whose removal to the United Kingdom wouldfor reasons of climate, place of birth or place of enlistment or any other reason not be beneficial.

(4) Where a person has been sentenced under this Act, by a court-martial held out of the United Kingdom,to imprisonment or detention for more than twelve months, the confirming officer or reviewing authority maynotwithstanding anything in subsection (2) of this section direct that he shall not be required to beremoved to the United Kingdom until he has served such part of his sentence, not exceeding (in the case ofa sentence of more than two years’ imprisonment) two years, as may be specified in the direction; and indetermining whether or not to exercise the powers conferred by this subsection a confirming officer orreviewing authority shall have regard to any recommendation in that behalf made by the court-martial.

(5) Any direction of a confirming officer under this section may at any time be revoked by the confirmingofficer or by a reviewing authority, or superseded by any direction of the confirming officer or a reviewingauthority which the officer or authority could have given under the last foregoing subsection; and anydirection of a reviewing authority under this section may at any time be revoked by a reviewing authorityor superseded as aforesaid.

(6) Any direction given under this section, and the revocation of any such direction, shall be promulgated.

(7) In ascertaining at any time for the purposes of this section the nature or length of a sentence regardshall be had to any commutation or remission of the sentence previously directed.

128 Application of enactments relating to coroners. U.K.

(1) Section five of the M43 Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868 (which makes specialprovision for the holding of inquests on the bodies of persons on whom judgment of death has been executedwithin the jurisdiction of a coroner) shall apply in relation to the execution, in any premises in theUnited Kingdom under the control of the Secretary of State within such jurisdiction, of a sentence of deathpassed under this Act by a court-martial as it applies to the execution of a judgment of death passed bya civil court, but with the substitution for the reference to the sheriff of a reference to the provostmarshal or other provost officer responsible for the due execution of the sentence.

(2) [F238 The Coroners Act 1887 to 1926][F238 The Coroners Act 1988] shall apply in relation to any premises in the United Kingdom under the control of the Secretary ofState and allocated for the accommodation of persons sentenced by court-martial to imprisonment or detentionas those Acts apply in relation to a prison.

Textual Amendments

F238 Words “The Coroners Act 1988" substituted (E.W.) for “The Coroners Acts 1887 to1926" by Coroners Act 1988 (c. 13, SIF 33), s. 36(1), Sch. 3 para. 6

Marginal Citations

M43 1868 c. 24.

129 Duties of governors of prisons and others to receive prisoners. U.K.

(1) It shall be the duty of the governor of a civil prison, or, in so far as regulations under section onehundred and twenty-one of this Act or Imprisonment and Detention Rules so provide, of the superintendentor other person in charge of a prison (not being a military prison) in a colony, to receive any person dulysent to that prison in pursuance of the regulations or rules and to confine him until execution of thesentence is completed or the prisoner is discharged or delivered over in due course of law.

(2) Where a person is in military custody in pursuance of a military sentence of imprisonment or detention,then on receipt of a written order in that behalf purporting to be signed by that person’s commandingofficer it shall be the duty of any such governor, superintendent or other person as aforesaid, of thepolice officer in charge of a police station or of any person in charge of any other place in whichprisoners may be lawfully confined (whether the station or place is in the United Kingdom or in a colony)to keep that person in custody for a period not exceeding seven days unless the said person is earlierdischarged or delivered over in due course of law.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C36 S. 129 extended by Guyana Independence Act 1966 (c. 14), s. 5(2)

130 Application to air-force establishments and custody. U.K.

(1) In section one hundred and eighteen of this Act, the reference in subsection (2) to a militaryestablishment shall include a reference to an air-force establishment (within the meaning of the M44 Air Force Act 1955).

(2) In section one hundred and nineteen of this Act references to a military establishment and toImprisonment and Detention Rulesshall include respectively references to such an air-force establishmentas aforesaid and to Imprisonment and Detention Rules made under the M45 Air Force Act 1955,and the reference in subsection (5) to military custody shall include a reference to air-force custody.

(3) In section one hundred and twenty-four of this Act the reference to a military prison shall include areference to an air-force prison (within the meaning of the M46 Air Force Act 1955).

(4) In subsection (3) of section one hundred and twenty-six of this Act the reference to a militaryestablishment shall include a reference to an air-force establishment (within the meaning of the M47 Air Force Act 1955).

Marginal Citations

M44 1955c. 19.

M45 1955 c. 19.

M46 1955 c. 19.

M47 1955c. 19.

Trial of persons ceasing to be subject to military law and time limits for trialsF274 U.K.

131 Trial and punishment of offences under military law notwithstanding offender ceasing to be subject tomilitary law. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of the next following section, where an offence under this Act triable bycourt-martial has been committed, or is reasonably suspected of having been committed, by any person whilesubject to military law, then in relation to that offence he shall be treated, for the purposes of theprovisions of this Actrelating to arrest, keeping in custody, investigation of charges, [F239 summary dealing with charges] trial and punishment by court-martial (including confirmation, review, reconsideration and suspension)and execution of sentences as continuing subject to military law notwithstanding his ceasing at any timeto be subject thereto.

(2) Where, while a person is in military or air-force custody by virtue of this section (whether before,during or after trial) he commits, or is reasonably suspected of having committed, an offence which if hewere subject to military law would be an offence under this Act triable by court-martial, then in relationto that offence or suspected offence he shall be treated, for the purposes of the provisions of this Actmentioned in the last foregoing subsection F240 , as having been subject to military law when the offence was committed or issuspected of having been committed and as continuing subject to military law thereafter.

(3) Where by virtue of either of the two last foregoing subsections a person is treated as being at any timesubject to military law for the purpose of any provision of this Act, that provision shall apply tohim—

(a) if he holds any military rank, as to a person having that rank;

(b) if he holds any naval or air-force rank or rating, as to a person having the corresponding militaryrank;

(c) otherwise as to a person having the rank which he had when last actually subject to military law:

Provided that as respects any time after he has been sentenced for the offence in question and thesentence has been confirmed the said provision shall apply to him (in any case) as to a soldier.

(4) Where apart from this subsection any provision of this Act would under the last foregoing subsectionapply to a person, in relation to different offences, as to a person having different ranks, it shall applyto him as to a person having the lower or lowest of those ranks.

Textual Amendments

F239 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 6(2)

F240 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), Sch. 5 Pt. II

132 Limitation of time for trial of offences under military law. U.K.

[F241 (1) Where by virtue of any enactment proceedings on indictment for any civil offence must be brought withina limited period, no proceedings shall be taken against any person for an offence against section 70 of thisAct corresponding to that civil offence unless the trial or proceedings on a summary dealing with the chargeis or are begun before the end of that period.]

(2) Where a person who has committed an offence of desertion, other than desertion on active service, hassince the offence served as a member of the regular forces continuously in an exemplary manner for not lessthan three years, he shall not be tried for that offence.

[F242 (3) Except in relation to the offences specified in subsection (3A) below, no proceedings shall be takenagainst a person by virtue of subsection (1) of section 131 of this Act unless—

(a) in a case where the charge is one which may be dealt with summarily, the proceedings on the summarydealing with the charge are begun within three months or the trial by court-martial is begun within sixmonths after he ceases to be subject to military law;

(b) in a case where the charge is one which cannot be dealt with summarily, the trial is begun within sixmonths after he ceases to be subject to military law.

(3A) Subsection (3) above does not apply to an offence against section 31 or 32 of this Act or desertion orto an offence against section 70 where the civil offence is alleged to have been committed outside theUnited Kingdom and the Attorney General consents to the proceedings.]

(4) A person shall not be arrested or kept in custody by virtue of subsection (1) of the last foregoingsection for an offence at any time after he has ceased to be triable for the offence.

Textual Amendments

F241 S. 132(1) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 7(1)(6)

F242 S. 132(3)(3A) substituted for s. 132(3) by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 6(3)(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C37 S. 132 excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/172, art. 86

[F243 133 Jurisdiction of civil courts U.K.

(1) Where a person subject to military law—

(a) has been tried for an offence by a court-martial or has had an offence committed by him taken intoconsideration by a court-martial in sentencing him, or

(b) has been charged with an offence under this Act and has had the charge dealt with summarily by hiscommanding officer or the appropriate superior authority,

a civil court shall be debarred from trying him subsequently for an offence substantially the same asthat offence; but except as aforesaid nothing in this Act shall be construed as restricting the jurisdictionof any civil court to try a person subject to this Act for an offence.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) a person shall not be deemed to have been tried by a court-martial if confirmation is withheld of afinding by the court-martial that he is guilty of the offence, or of a finding by the court-martial thathe is not guilty of the offence by reason of insanity;

(b) a person shall not be deemed to have had an offence taken into consideration by a court-martial insentencing him if confirmation of the sentence is withheld or the sentence is quashed [F244 (as well as in a case where the taking into consideration of the offence has beenannuled by the confirming officer or reviewing authority)];

(c) a case shall be deemed to have been dealt with summarily by the commanding officer or appropriatesuperior authority notwithstanding that the finding of that officer or authority has been quashed, or theaward of that officer or authority quashed or varied, on the review thereof].

Textual Amendments

F243 S. 133 substituted by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 25(1)

F244 Words added by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 5(4)(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C38 S. 133 extended with modifications by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 3 para. 16

[F245 133A Financial penalty enforcement orders. U.K.

(1) If—

(a) a financial penalty has been awarded against any person under this Act, and

[F246 (b) the penalty was—

(i) a fine awarded in respect of a qualifying offence (or in respect of such an offence together with otheroffences) on the conviction of a qualifying offence either of that person or of the person as whose parentor guardian that person is to pay the penalty; or

(ii) stoppages or a compensation order awarded in respect of a qualifying offence, (whether on the convictionof any person of the offence or on a request by any person for the offence to be taken into consideration);and]

(c) no term of imprisonment was imposed in default of payment, and

(d) no appeal is outstanding and the time provided for the giving of notice of appeal against the award hasexpired, and

(e) the whole or any part of the penalty remains unpaid or unrecovered, and

(f) the person against whom the award was made is a person to whom this section applies,

the Defence Council or an officer authorised by them may make an order (in this section referred toas a “financial penalty enforcement order") for the registration of the penalty by the relevant court.

(2) This section applies to a person who is, or would be but for section 131 above, neither subject toservice law nor a civilian to whom Part II of this Act is applied by section 209 below, Part II of the M48 Air Force Act 1955 is applied by section 209 of that Act or Parts I and II of the M49 Naval Discipline Act 1957 are applied by section 118 of that Act.

(3) In this section “qualifying offence” means

(a) an offence under section 36 above committed outside the United Kingdom and consisting of or includingacts or omissions that would constitute a comparable foreign offence or a local road traffic offence;

(b) an offence under section 70 above;

(c) an offence under any provision of this Act other than section 70 above consisting of or including actsor omissions which would also constitute an offence under section 70 above;

and for the purposes of this definition—

• “comparable foreign offence” means an offence under the civil law of any place outside theUnited Kingdom which is comparable to an offence under the law of England and Wales; and

• “local road traffic offence” means an offence under the civil law of any place outside theUnited Kingdom relating to road traffic.

(4) A financial penalty enforcement order shall contain a certificate issued on behalf of the DefenceCouncil or by an officer authorised by them and stating—

(a) that a financial penalty has been awarded against the person named in the order;

(b) that the conditions specified in paragraphs (b) to (f) of subsection (1) above are satisfied;

(c) the nature and amount of the penalty;

(d) the date on which and the [F247 offence or offences] in respect of which it was awarded;

(e) if it was awarded against the person named in the order as the parent or guardian of some other person,the fact that it was so awarded and the name of that other person;

(f) sufficient particulars of the case (including particulars of any offences taken into consideration atthe trial);

(g) the date of any payment or recovery of a sum on account of the penalty;

(h) the sum outstanding; and

(j) the authority to whom and address to which any stoppages or compensation included in the penalty willfall, on recovery, to be remitted under subsection (7) below.

(5) A document purporting to be a financial penalty enforcement order and to be signed on behalf of theDefence Council or by an officer authorised by them shall be deemed to be such an order unless the contraryis proved, and a certificate under subsection (4) above shall be evidence of the matters stated.

(6) Subject to subsection (7) below, upon registration of a financial penalty enforcement order—

(a) service enforcement procedures shall cease to be available for the recovery of the sum certified asoutstanding, and

(b) that sum shall be treated for all purposes as if it had been a fine imposed upon a conviction by therelevant court.

(7) Stoppages or compensation recovered under this section shall be remitted to the authority at the addressspecified in the certificate under subsection (4) above.

(8) Where it appears from a financial penalty enforcement order that the penalty was imposed in respect ofmore than one offence, it shall be deemed for the purposes of enforcement to be a single penalty only.

(9) Where—

(a) a financial penalty enforcement order has been made against any person, and

(b) he ceases to be a person to whom this section applies at a time when the whole or any part of thecertified sum is still outstanding,

service enforcement procedures shall apply to the amount outstanding as if it were a sum payable byway of a fine imposed by a civil court.

(10) In this section—

• “financial penalty” means—

(a) a fine, including a fine imposed by virtue of paragraph 13 of Schedule 5A below;

(b) stoppages;

(c) a compensation order imposed by virtue of paragraph 11 or 13 of Schedule 5A below; F248

(d)

• F248 “the relevant court” means—

(a) the magistrates’ court in England or Wales,

(b) the sheriff court in Scotland, or

(c) the court of summary jurisdiction in Northern Ireland,

within whose jurisdiction the person against whom a financial penalty enforcement order is made appearsto the Defence Council or an officer authorised by them to reside or to be likely to reside;

• “service enforcement procedures” means any procedure available by virtue of any of thefollowing enactments, namely—

(a) sections 144, 146 and 209(4) and (4A) below and sections 144, 146 and 209(4) and (4A) of the M50 Air Force Act 1955, and

(b) sections 128A and 128B of the M51 Naval Discipline Act 1957; and “stoppages” does not include sums awarded by virtue of section 147 or 148 below.

[F249 (11) Where a fine has been awarded together with stoppages or a compensation order, this section shall haveeffect in relation to the fine and to the stoppages or compensation order as if they were separatepenalties.]]

Textual Amendments

F245 S. 133A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 16, Sch. 8 para. 1

F246 S. 133A(1)(b) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 16(1), Sch. 1 para. 7(2)

F247 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 16(1), Sch. 1 para. 7(3)

F248 Para. (d) in the definition of “financial penalty" and the word “or" immediately preceding it repealed by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 16(2), Sch. 2

F249 S. 133A(11) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1986 (c. 21, SIF 7:1), s. 16(1), Sch. 1 para.7(4)

Marginal Citations

M48 1955 c. 19.

M49 1957 c. 53.

M50 1955c. 19.

M51 1957 c. 53

134 Persons not to be tried under this Act for offences already disposed of. U.K.

(1) Where a person subject to military law—

[F250 (a) has been tried for an offence by a competent civil court, wherever situated, or a court-martial (whetherheld under this Act, the M52 Air Force Act 1955 or the M53 Naval DisciplineAct 1957), or

(aa) has had an offence committed by him taken into consideration when being sentenced by a competent civilcourt in the United Kingdom or any such court-martial as is referred to in the foregoing paragraph; or]

(b) has been charged with an offence under this Act, [F251 the M54 Naval Discipline Act 1957] or the M55 Air Force Act 1955, and has had the charge dismissed, or has been foundguilty on the charge, by his commanding officer or the appropriate superior authority, or

(c) has had an offence condoned by his commanding officer (whether military, naval or air-force),

he shall not be liable in respect of that offence to be tried by court-martial or to have the casedealt with summarily by his commanding officer or the appropriate superior authority.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) a person shall not be deemed to have been tried by a court-martial if confirmation is withheld of afinding by the court-martial that he is guilty of the offence [F252 or of a finding by the court-martial that he is not guilty of the offence by reasonof insanity];

(b) a person shall not be deemed to have had an offence taken into consideration by a court-martial insentencing him if confirmation of the sentence of the court is withheld or the sentence is quashed [F253 (as well as in a case where the taking into consideration of the offence has beenannulled by the confirming officer or reviewing authority)];

(c) a case shall be deemed to have been dealt with summarily by the commanding officer or appropriatesuperior authority notwithstanding that the finding of that officer or authority has been quashed, or theaward of that officer or authority quashed or varied, on the review thereof;

(d) an offence shall be deemed to have been condoned by the commanding officer of a person alleged to havecommitted the offence if, and only if, that officer or any officer authorised by him to act in relation tothe alleged offence has with knowledge of all relevant circumstances informed him that he will not becharged therewith;

(e) a person ordered under subsection (2) of section fifty-seven of this Act or the corresponding provisionof the M56 Air Force Act 1955, to be imprisoned or to undergo detention for an offenceagainst that section or provision shall be deemed to have been tried by court-martial for the offence.

(3) Where confirmation of a finding of guilty of an offence [F254 or of a finding of not guilty of an offence by reason of insanity] is withheld the accused shall not be tried again by court-martial for that offence unless the orderconvening the later court-martial is issued not later than twenty-eight days after the promulgation of thedecision to withhold confirmation.

(4) Save as provided in the foregoing provisions of this section, proceedings for an offence against thisAct (whether before a commanding officer or appropriate superior authority or before a court-martial) shallnot be barred on the ground of condonation.

Textual Amendments

F250 S. 134(1)(a)(aa) substituted for s. 134(1)(a) by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 26

F251 Words substituted by virtue of Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), s. 137(2)

F252 Words added by Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84), s. 8(3) proviso (c), Sch.2 Pt. I

F253 Words added by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 5(4)(b)

F254 Words inserted by Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (c. 84), s. 8(3) proviso (c),Sch. 2 Pt. I

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C39 S. 134 excluded by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), s. 19(2)

C40 S. 134(1)(2) extended with modification by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 3 para.16

Marginal Citations

M52 1955 c. 19.

M53 1957 c. 53.

M54 1957 c. 53.

M55 1955 c. 19.

M56 1955 c. 19.

InquiriesF274 U.K.

135 Boards of inquiry. U.K.

(1) Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of rules made under this section (hereinafter referredto as “board of inquiry rules”), [F255 the Defence Council] or any military, naval or air-force officer empowered by or under such rules so to do may convene aboard of inquiry to investigate and report on the facts relating to—

(a) the absence of any person subject to military law;

(b) the capture of any such person by the enemy;

(c) the death of any person in a military establishment, being an establishment in any country or territoryoutside the United Kingdom where an inquiry into the death is not required to be held by any civilauthority;

(d) any other matter of a class specified in such rules or referred to such a board by [F255 the Defence Council] or any such officer as aforesaid;

and a board of inquiry shall, if directed so to do, express their opinion on any question arising outof any matter referred to the board.

[F256 (2) A board of inquiry shall consist of a president, who shall be an officer not below the rank of captainor corresponding rank and be subject to military law, the M57 Naval Discipline Act 1957,or air-force law, and not less than two other members each of whom shall either be a person so subject orto be a person not so subject who is in the service of the Crown.]

(3) Subject to the provisions of this section, board of inquiry rules may make provision with respect tothe convening, constitution and procedure of boards of inquiry and, without prejudice to the generality ofthe foregoing, may make provision with respect to all or any of the following matters, that is tosay:—

(a) the rules of evidence to be observed by boards of inquiry and the taking of evidence before such boards,so however that the rules shall provide for the taking of evidence on oath or affirmation except incircumstances such that if the evidence were being taken at a court-martial an oath could be dispensed with;

(b) without prejudice to the provisions of the next following section, the making in service books ofrecords of findings of boards of inquiry in such cases as may be provided by the rules;

(c) such incidental and supplementary matters as appear requisite for the purposes of the rules.

(4) Board of inquiry rules shall contain provision for securing that any witness or other person [F257 to whom this subsection applies] who may be affected by the findings of a board of inquiry shall have an opportunity of being present,and represented, at the sittings of the board or such part thereof as may be specified by or under therules.

[F258 This subsection, so far as it applies to persons other than witnesses who may beaffected by the findings, applies to persons of the following descriptions only, that is to say—

(a) persons who are subject to military law, air-force law or the M58 Naval Discipline Act1957;

(b) persons who, though not so subject, are in the service of the Crown and may be so affected in characteror professional reputation; and

(c) persons who, though not so subject, are emloyed by the Civil Aviation Authority in or in connection withthe provision by the Authority of air navigation services and may be so affected in character orprofessional reputation.]

(5) Evidence given before a board of inquiry shall not be admissible against any person in proceedingsbefore a court-martial, commanding officer or appropriate superior authority, other than proceedings F259 for an offence against section seventy of this Act where the correspondingcivil offence is perjury.

(6) The power to make board of inquiry rules shall be exercisable by the Secretary of State by statutoryinstrument which shall be laid before Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F255 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F256 S. 135(2) substituted by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), s. 26(1)

F257 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 23(1)

F258 Para. added by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 23(1)

F259 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C41 S. 135 modified (1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 14, s. 102(1)(a); S.I. 1997/305, art. 2(1)(a)

Marginal Citations

M57 1957 c. 53.

M58 1957 c. 53.

136 Inquiries into absence. U.K.

(1) Where a board of inquiry enquiring into the absence of an officer, warrant officer, non-commissionedofficer or soldier reports that he has been absent without leave or other sufficient cause for a periodspecified in the report, not being less than twenty-one days, a record of the report shall in accordancewith Queen’s Regulations be entered in the service books.

(2) A record entered in pursuance of the last foregoing subsection shall, unless the absentee subsequentlysurrenders or is arrested, or the report of the board of inquiry is annulled by [F260 the Defence Council] or a subsequent board of inquiry, have the like effect as a conviction by court-martial for desertion.

Textual Amendments

F260 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C42 S. 136 modified (1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 14, s. 102(1)(b); S.I. 1997/305, art. 2(1)

137 Regimental inquiries. U.K.

(1) An officer of any of Her Majesty’s military forces authorised in that behalf by or under regulationsof [F261 the Defence Council] may cause an inquiry to be held, in such manner and [F262 by such person or persons as may be specified by or determined under such regulations(being, as the case may be, a person who is subject to military law, the M59 NavalDiscipline Act 1957, or air-force law or, not being so subject, is in the service of the Crown, or personseach of whom is so subject or, not being so subject, is in that service)], into any matter so specified or determined:

Provided that an inquiry shall not be held in pursuance of this section into—

(a) the absence of a person subject to military law, or

(b) the capture of any such person by the enemy.

(2) Regulations of [F261 the Defence Council] made for the purposes of this section may make provision as to the rules of evidence to be observedat inquiries held in pursuance of this section and the taking of evidence at such inquiries, and mayauthorise the taking of evidence on oath or affirmation, and the administration of oaths, in such cases asmay be specified by or under the regulations.

(3) Subsections (4) and (5) of section one hundred and thirty-five of this Act shall apply in relation toinquiries held in pursuance of this section with the substitution of references to regulations of [F261 the Defence Council] for references to board of inquiry rules and of references to an inquiry held in pursuance of thissection for references to a board of inquiry.

Textual Amendments

F261 Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F262 Words substituted by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), s. 26(2)

Marginal Citations

M59 1957 c. 53.

Miscellaneous provisionsF274 U.K.

138 Restitution or compensation for theft, etc. U.K.

(1) The following provisions shall have effect where a person has been convicted by court-martial ofunlawfully obtaining any property, whether by stealing it, [F263 handling it], F264 or otherwise [F265 or where a person has been convicted of any offence by a court-martial and the courthas taken such an offence of unlawfully obtaining property into consideration in sentencing him.].

(2) If any of the property unlawfully obtained has been found in the possession of the offender, it may beordered to be delivered or paid to the person appearing to be the owner thereof.

(3) If there has been found in the possession of the offender any property (other than money) appearing tohave been obtained by him by the conversion or exchange of any of the property unlawfully obtained, theproperty may be ordered to be delivered to the person appearing to be the owner of the property unlawfullyobtained.

(4) Where money is found in the possession of the offender, then whether or not it appears to have beenobtained as aforesaid an order may be made that there shall be paid out of that money to the personappearing to be the owner of the property unlawfully obtained such sum as may be specified in the order asor towards compensation for the loss caused to the said person by the offence, in so far as not otherwisemade good under this Act or by the recovery of the property unlawfully obtained.

(5) Where any of the property unlawfully obtained has been sold or given in pawn to some other person whodid not then know it to have been unlawfully obtained, an order may be made that, subject to the restitutionto the owner thereof of the property sold or given as aforesaid, there shall be paid to the said otherperson, out of any money found in the possession of the offender (whether or not the money appears to beproceeds of the sale or giving in pawn), such sum as may be specified in the order as or towardscompensation for the loss caused to him in consequence of the sale or giving in pawn.

(6) Where any of the property unlawfully obtained has been given in exchange to some other person who didnot then know it to have been unlawfully obtained, an order may be made that, subject to the restitutionto the owner thereof of the property given as aforesaid, there shall be restored to the said other personthe property taken in exchange for the property unlawfully obtained.

(7) An order under this section may be made by the court-martial by whom the offender is convicted, by theconfirming officer, or by any reviewing authority; and in this section the expression “appearing” means appearing to the court, officer or authority making the order.

(8) An order under this section made by a court-martial shall not have effect until confirmed by theconfirming officer; and the provisions of this Part of this Act as to the confirmation and review of theproceedings of courts-martial shall apply to an order under this section as they apply to a sentence.

(9) The operation of any order under this section shall be suspended—

(a) in any case, until the expiration of the period prescribed under [F266 Part II of the M60 Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968], as the period within which an application for leave to appeal to the Courts-Martial Appeal Courtagainst [F267 a relevant conviction] must be lodged; and

(b) if such an application is duly lodged, until either the application is finally refused or is withdrawnor the appeal is determined or abandoned;

and where the operation of such an order as aforesaid is suspended under this section—

(c) it shall not take effect if the conviction is quashed on appeal;

(d) the Courts-Martial Appeal Court may by order annul or vary the order although the conviction is notquashed;

(e) such steps shall be taken for the safe custody, during the period during which the operation of theorder is suspended, of the property ordered to be restored or handed over or the money to which the orderrelates as may be provided by rules of court made under [F266 Part II of the said Act of 1968].

(10) Notwithstanding anything in the last foregoing subsection, an order under this section shall not, sofar as it relates to the delivery of property to the person appearing to be the owner thereof, be suspendedif the court, officer or authority making the order directs to the contrary in any case in which, in theopinion of the court, officer or authority, the title to the property is not in dispute.

(11) An order under this section shall not bar the right of any person, other than the offender or a personclaiming through him, to recover any property delivered or paid in pursuance of such an order from theperson to whom it is delivered or paid.

[F268 (12) In this section “relevant conviction” means—

(a) where an order under this section was made as a result of a conviction of such an offence of unlawfullyobtaining property as is mentioned in subsection (1) above, that conviction; or

(b) where an order under this section was made as a result of such an offence of unlawfully obtainingproperty having been taken into consideration in determining sentence, the conviction or, if more than one,each conviction in respect of which the sentence fell to be determined.]

Textual Amendments

F263 Words substituted by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. II

F264 Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I

F265 Words added by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 14, Sch. 7 para. 1(1)

F266 Words substituted by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), Sch. 4

F267 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 14, Sch. 7 para. 1(2)

F268 S. 138(12) added by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 14, Sch. 7 para. 1(3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C43 S. 138 extended with modifications by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), Sch. 3 para. 17

C44 S. 138(9) modified by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), s. 46(1)

Marginal Citations

M60 1968 c. 20.

139 Appointment of judge advocates. U.K.

Without prejudice to the powers conferred by Her Majesty on the Judge Advocate General, the appointmentof a judge advocate to act at any court-martial may, failing the making thereof by or on behalf of the JudgeAdvocate General, be made by the convening officer.

140 Promulgation. U.K.

Any finding, sentence, determination or other thing required by this Act to be promulgated shall bepromulgated either by being communicated to the accused or in such other manner as may be specified byQueen’s Regulations or as the confirming officer or reviewing authority, as the case may be, may direct.

141 Custody of proceedings of courts-martial and right of accused to a copy thereof. U.K.

(1) The record of the proceedings of a court-martial shall be kept in the custody of the Judge AdvocateGeneral for not less than the prescribed period being a period sufficient to ensure that the rightsconferred by the two next following subsections [F269 and by subsection 141A below] shall be capable of being exercised.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, any person tried by a court-martial shall be entitled toobtain from the Judge Advocate General on demand at any time within the relevant period and on paymenttherefor at such rate [F270 as the Judge Advocate General may determine] a copy of the record of the proceedings of the court.

(3) Where a person tried by court-martial dies within the relevant period, his personal representatives orany person who in the opinion of the Judge Advocate General ought to be treated for the purposes of thissubsection as his personal representative shall subject to the provisions of this section be entitled toobtain from the Judge Advocate General on demand at any time within the period of twelve months from thedeath and on payment therefor at [F270 the rate determined under subsection (2) above] a copy of the record of the proceedings of the court.

[F271 (3A) The right of a person or his representatives to obtain a copy of the record under this section does notextend to so much of the record as relates only to a charge of which he was found not guilty.]

(4) If, on an application in pursuance of [F272 this section] for a copy of the record of any proceedings, the Secretary of State certifies that it is requisitefor reasons of security that the proceedings or any part thereof should not be disclosed, the applicantshall not be entitled to a copy of the proceedings or part to which the certificate relates.

(5) In this section the expression “the relevant period”, in relation to any person tried by court-martial, means the periodof five years beginning with the date of his acquittal or, where he was convicted, of the promulgation ofthe findings and sentence or, where a finding of guilty was not confirmed, of the promulgation of thewithholding of confirmation:

Provided that where the proceedings relate to two or more charges and the person tried was acquittedon one or more of the charges and convicted on another or others, the relevant period shall be the periodof five years beginning with the date of the promulgation of the finding or findings of guilty and thesentence thereon or of the withholding of confirmation of that finding or those findings.

(6) Any reference in this section to the record of the proceedings of a court-martial includes a referenceto the record of the proceedings with respect to the confirmation or revision of the findings and sentenceof the court-martial.

Textual Amendments

F269 Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 8(2)

F270 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 58

F271 S. 141(3A) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55) s. 7(2)(a)(4) except in relation to a record of proceedings commenced before 1.5.1982

F272 Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 7(2)(b)(4) except in relation to a record of proceedings commenced before 1.5.1982

[F273 141A Right of penalised parent or guardian to copy of record of court-martial proceedings. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where a court-martial imposes a fine on or makes acompensation order against a parent or guardian under paragraph 13 of Schedule 5A to this Act, the parentor guardian shall be entitled to obtain from the Judge Advocate General on demand at any time within therelevant period and on payment therefor at such rate as the Judge Advocate General may determine a copy ofthe relevant part of the record of the proceedings of the court.

(2) Where the parent or guardian dies within the relevant period, his personal representatives or any personwho in the opinion of the Judge Advocate General ought to be treated for the purposes of this subsectionas his personal representative shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be entitled to obtain fromthe Judge Advocate General on demand at any time within the period of twelve months from the death and onpayment therefor at the rate determined under subsection (1) above a copy of the relevant part of the recordof the proceedings of the court.

(3) In a case where this section applies, any entitlement conferred by subsection (1) or (2) above is inaddition to any entitlement conferred by section 141(2) or (3) of this Act.

(4) If, on an application in pursuance of this section for a copy of the record of any proceedings, theSecretary of State certifies that it is requisite for reasons of security that the proceedings or any partthereof should not be disclosed, the applicant shall not be entitled to a copy of the proceedings or partto which the certificate relates.

(5) In this section “the relevant period” means the period of five years beginning with the date of thepromulgation of the findings and sentence.

(6) In this section “the relevant part of the record” means so much of the record as relates to compliance withthe requirements of the said paragraph 13 or to any matters taken into account by the court in deciding toimpose the fine or make the compensation order.

(7) Subsection (6) of section 141 of this Act applies for the purposes of this section as it applies forthe purposes of that section.]

Textual Amendments

F273 S. 141A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 8(1)

142 Indemnity for prison officers, etc. U.K.

No action shall lie in respect of anything done by any person in pursuance of a military sentence ofimprisonment or detention if the doing thereof would have been lawful but for a defect in any warrant orother instrument made for the purposes of that sentence.

InterpretationF274 U.K.

143 Interpretation of Part II. U.K.

(1) In this Part of this Act:—

• “civil prison” means a prison in the United Kingdom in which a person sentenced by a civilcourt to imprisonment can for the time being be confined;

• “convening officer”, in relation to a court-martial, means the officer convening thatcourt-martial and includes his successor or any person for the time being exercising his or his successor’sfunctions;

• “military establishment” means a military prison or any other establishment under thecontrol of the Secretary of State where persons may be required to serve military sentences of imprisonmentor detention;

• “military prison” means separate premises under the control of the Secretary of State andprimarily allocated for persons serving military sentences of imprisonment;

• references to a military sentence of imprisonment are references to a sentence of imprisonment passedby a court-martial;

• references to a military sentence of detention are references to a sentence of detention passed by acourt-martial or awarded by the offender’s commanding officer;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by Rules of Procedure.

(2) References in this Part of this Act to warrant officers do not include references to acting warrantofficers.

(3) References in this Part of this Act to non-commissioned officers include references to actingnon-commissioned officers and also to acting warrant officers.