Armed Forces Act 1976

7 Jurisdiction of Standing Civilian Courts

(1) The offences for which a civilian may be tried by a Standing Civilian Court are offences committed outside the United Kingdom for which a court-martial may try a civilian, other than—

(a) any offence under section 57 of the [1955 c. 18.] Army Act 1955 or the [1955 c. 19.] Air Force Act 1955 (offences in relation to courts), and

(b) any offence under section 70 of either of those Acts constituted by the commission of an offence which, if the person charged were alleged to have committed it in England or Wales, a magistrates' court would be unable to try.

(2) No person may be tried by a Standing Civilian Court if he or any person jointly charged with him elects to be tried by court-martial in accordance with the provisions of this Act or of any order made under this Act.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, no person shall be tried by a Standing Civilian Court unless the trial is begun within three years after the alleged commission of the offence with which he is charged.

(4) No person shall be tried for an offence under section 70 of the Army Act 1955 or section 70 of the Air Force Act 1955 in any case where proceedings for the corresponding civil offence must be brought within a limited time, unless the trial is begun within that time.