Armed Forces Act 1971

1. Introductory Text

2. Part I Duration of Services Acts

   1. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Part II Revision of Service Offences and Punishments

   1. Misconduct in action and other offences arising out of military etc. service

      1. 2. Misconduct in action, assisting the enemy, obstructing operations, etc.

      2. 3. Prize offences.

      3. 4. Offences by or in relation to sentries, persons on watch etc.

      4. 5. Failure to attend for duty, neglect of duty etc.

      5. 6. Looting

   2. Mutiny, insubordination, etc.

      1. 7. Mutiny

      2. 8. Insurbodinate behaviour, and disobedience to lawful commands.

      3. 9. Obstruction of provost officers etc.

      4. 10. Disobedience to standing orders etc.

   3. Desertion, absence without leave, etc.

      1. 11. Desertion.

      2. 12. Absence without leave.

      3. 13. Failure to report or apprehend deserters or absentees.

   4. Malingering, drunkenness and disorderly conduct

      1. 14. Malingering.

      2. 15. Drunkeness.

      3. 16. Disorderly conduct.

   5. Offences relating to service etc. property

      1. 17. Service etc. property: damage, loss, misapplication and waste.

   6. Billeting offences

      1. 18. Billeting offences.

   7. Navigation and flying offences etc.

      1. 19. Loss or hazarding of ship.

      2. 20. Inaccurate certification of ships and aircraft.

      3. 21. Low flying and annoyance by flying.

   8. Offences relating to, and by, persons in custody

      1. 22. Permitting escape, resisting arrest, and escaping.

   9. Miscellaneous offences

      1. 23. Offences in relation to courts-martial.

      2. 24. Unauthorised disclosure of information.

      3. 25. False statements on entry into Royal Navy.

      4. 26. Falsification of documents

      5. 27. Offences against civilian population.

      6. 28. Offences against morale.

      7. 29. Scandalous conduct by officers.

      8. 30. Ill-treatment of persons of inferior rank etc.

      9. 31. Disgraceful conduct.

      10. 32. Attempts, aiding and abetting etc., and inciting.

      11. 33. Conduct to the prejudice of service discipline.

      12. 34. Civil offences.

   10. Abolition of certain offences

       1. 35. Abolition of certain offences.

   11. Punishments

       1. 36. Punishments for army and air-force offences dealt with courts-martial.

       2. 37. Punishments for army and air-force offences dealt with summarily.

       3. 38. Punishments for naval offences.

       4. 39. Imprisonment and detention: consecutive terms.

       5. 40. Detention for army and air-force offences: limitation of total period.

   12. Other provisions

       1. 41. Time for trial of offences under s. 42 of Naval Discipline Act 1957.

       2. 42. Naval offences by civilians.

       3. 43. Consequential and minor, amendments.

4. Part III REVISION OF PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO SERVICE OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENTS

   1. 44. Arrest by civil authorities.

   2. 45. Exclusion of enactments requiring fiat of Attorney General etc. in connection with proceedings.

   3. 46. Extension of powers of “higher authority” with respect to army and air-force charges.

   4. 47. Amendments as to summary trial for naval offences.

   5. 48. Amendments as to convening or ordering of court-martial.

   6. 49. Amendments as to procedure of courts-martial, and evidence in naval disciplinary courts.

   7. 50. Army and air force courts-martial: amendments as to revision and confirmation of findings.

   8. 51. Naval findings and sentences: amendments as to reviewing authorities.

   9. 52. Countries for serving of naval sentences of imprisonment and detention.

   10. 53. Commencment of naval sentences of imprisonment and detention.

   11. 54. Remission of sentences of imprisonment and detention.

   12. 55. Amendment of Naval Discipline Act 1957 as respects effect of taking offences into consideration.

   13. 56. Amendments as to deserters and absentees without leave.

   14. 57. Addition to Naval Discipline Act 1957 of provisions as to proof of proceedings.

   15. 58. Fees for copies of proceedings of army and air-force courts-martial.

5. Part IV FORFEITURE OF PAY ETC. AND DEDUCTIONS FROM PAY

   1. 59. Army and air force : new provisions for deductions in respect of judgement debts etc.

   2. 60. Navy: amendments as to forefeitures for illegal absence.

   3. 61. Navy: new provisions as to forfeitures and deductions generally, and as to deductions for civil penalties, judgement debts etc.

   4. 62. Amendments of provisions as to service of process in maitenance proceedings.

6. Part V Miscellaneous Amendments

   1. 63. Minimum age for enlistment or entry without parental etc. consent.

   2. 64. Purchase of discharge from army and air force.

   3. 65. Forefeiture of service for naval deserters.

   4. 66. Redress of complaints.

   5. 67. Naval billeting and requisitioning.

   6. 68. Reductions in rank under Army Act 1955 and Air Force Act 1955.

   7. 69. (1) . . . . . . . . ....

   8. 70. Taking of affidavits and declarations abroad.

   9. 71. Addition to Naval Discipline Act 1957 of provision indemnifying prison officers etc.

   10. 72. Application of Army Act 1955 and Air Force Act 1955 to passengers in H.M. ships and aircraft.

   11. 73. Appeal against sentence by civilians.

   12. 74. Meaning of “active service” in Naval Discipline Act 1957.

   13. 75. Amendments for introducing naval rate, and marine rank, of warrant officer.

   14. 76. Sufficency of evidence in Scottish courts.

7. Part VI Supplemental

   1. 77. Repeals and transitional provisions.

   2. 78. Short title, construction and commencement.

8. 1. SCHEDULE 1

      AMENDMENTS ARISING FROM PART II OF THIS ACT

      1. The Army Act 1955 and the Air Force Act 1955

         1. 1. (1) The amendments to be made in the Army Act...

      2. The Naval Discipline Act 1957

         1. 2. (1) The amendments to be made in the Naval Discipline...

   2. Schedule 2

      AMENDMENTS ABOUT APPEALS AGAINST SENTENCE

      1. Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968

         1. 1. (1) The Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 shall be amended as...

      2. The Army Act 1955 and the Air Force Act 1955

         1. 2. Section 113(3) of the Army Act 1955 and section 113(3)...

      3. The Naval Discipline Act 1957

         1. 3. Section 70(3) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 shall be...

   3. Schedule 3

      AMENDMENTS FOR INTRODUCING NAVAL RATE, AND MARINE RANK, OF WARRANT OFFICER

      1. The Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions Act 1865

         1. 1. Section 2 of the Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions...

      2. The Greenwich Hospital Act 1865

         1. 2. In section 5 of the Greenwich Hospital Act 1865, immediately...

      3. The Navy and Marines (Property of Deceased) Act 1865

         1. 3. Section 2 of the Navy and Marines (Property of Deceased)...

      4. The Army Act 1955

         1. 4. (1) Section 210 of the Army Act 1955 shall be...

      5. The Naval Discipline Act 1957

         1. 5. (1) Section 45(2)( b ) of the Naval Discipline Act...

      6. The Reserve Forces Act 1966

         1. 6. . . . . . . . . . ....

      7. The Armed Forces Act 1966

         1. 7. In section 14(1) of the Armed Forces Act 1966, in...

   4. SCHEDULE 4

      Repeals