Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52)

Part 8 U.K. Sentencing Powers and Mandatory etc Sentences

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 8 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Court Martial) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/2041), art. 1, rule 128(2)

Chapter 7 U.K. Court Orders Other Than Sentences

Service restraining orders U.K.

229 Service restraining orders U.K.

(1) The Court Martial or the Service Civilian Court may make an order under this section where—

(a) it convicts or acquits a person (“the defendant”) of an offence; and

(b) the defendant is subject to service law or is a civilian subject to service discipline.

(2) An order under this section—

(a) prohibits the defendant from doing anything described in the order; and

(b) has effect for a fixed period specified in the order or until further order.

(3) An order under this section may be made, and a prohibition may be included in the order, only for the purpose of protecting a person mentioned in the order from conduct which amounts to harassment.

(4) A person subject to service law or a civilian subject to service discipline commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he does anything which he is prohibited from doing by an order under this section.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable to any punishment mentioned in the Table in section 164, but any sentence of imprisonment imposed in respect of the offence must not exceed five years.

(6) In proceedings for an order under this section, the Director of Service Prosecutions and the defence may lead (as further evidence) any evidence which would be admissible in proceedings in the High Court in England and Wales for an injunction under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (c. 40).

Commencement Information

I1 S. 229 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I2 S. 229 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

230 Service restraining orders: supplementary U.K.

(1) Section 7 (interpretation) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (c. 40) (“the 1997 Act”) applies for the purposes of section 229 of this Act as it applies for the purposes of sections 5 and 5A of that Act.

(2) Section 12 of the 1997 Act (national security etc) applies for the purposes of section 229 of this Act as if—

(a) the reference in subsection (1)(c) to serious crime were a reference to serious service offences or serious crime (committed anywhere);

(b) the reference in subsection (1) to the 1997 Act were a reference to section 229 of this Act.

(3) Where the Court Martial Appeal Court allows an appeal against conviction it may remit the case to the Court Martial for that court to consider whether to proceed under section 229.

(4) Section 229 applies in relation to a case remitted under subsection (3) as if subsection (1)(a) were omitted.

Commencement Information

I3 S. 230 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I4 S. 230 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

231 Service restraining orders: appeals U.K.

(1) This section applies where a court makes an order under section 229—

(a) after it has acquitted the defendant of an offence; or

(b) in respect of a case remitted to it under section 230(3).

(2) For the purposes of sections 285 to 287 (appeals from Service Civilian Court) or, as the case may be, the Court Martial Appeals Act 1968 (c. 20)—

(a) the order is to be treated as a sentence passed on the defendant in respect of the offence; and

(b) the defendant is to be treated for the purpose of enabling him to appeal against the order as if he had been convicted of the offence by the court.

(3) For the purposes of any appeal against the order, references in section 16A of the Court Martial Appeals Act 1968 to passing a sentence include making an order.

Commencement Information

I5 S. 231 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I6 S. 231 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

232 Service restraining orders: variation and revocation U.K.

(1) The Court Martial may vary or revoke an order under section 229 on an application made by—

(a) the Director of Service Prosecutions;

(b) the defendant; or

(c) any other person mentioned in the order.

(2) Any person mentioned in the order is entitled to be heard on the hearing of an application under subsection (1).

(3) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 229, the court that convicts him may vary or revoke the order to which the offence relates.

Commencement Information

I7 S. 232 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I8 S. 232 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

[F1 Service sexual offences prevention orders etc U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 232A-232G and cross-heading inserted (8.3.2012 for specified purposes) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), ss. 17(1), 32(3); S.I. 2012/669, art. 3(d)

232A Service sexual offences prevention orders U.K.

(1) The Court Martial or the Service Civilian Court may make an order under this section where—

(a) it deals with a person within subsection (2) (“the defendant”) in respect of—

(i) a qualifying section 42 offence of which the defendant has been convicted; or

(ii) a relevant finding in relation to a qualifying section 42 offence; and

(b) it is satisfied that it is necessary to make an order under this section for the purpose of protecting the service community outside the United Kingdom from serious sexual harm from the defendant.

(2) The following are persons within this subsection—

(a) a member of the regular forces;

(b) a member of the reserve forces (whether or not for the time being subject to service law);

(c) a civilian subject to service discipline;

(d) a person who the court is satisfied is intending to become, or likely to become, a civilian subject to service discipline.

(3) An order under this section—

(a) prohibits the defendant from doing anything described in the order; and

(b) has effect for a fixed period, of at least five years, specified in the order or until further order.

(4) The only prohibitions that may be included in the order are those necessary for the purpose of protecting the service community outside the United Kingdom from serious sexual harm from the defendant.

(5) Where—

(a) a court makes an order under this section, and

(b) the defendant is already subject to such an order (whether made by that court or another),

the earlier order ceases to have effect.

(6) In this section and sections 232B to 232E—

(a) “protecting the service community outside the United Kingdom from serious sexual harm” from a person means protecting the service community outside the United Kingdom, or particular members of that community, from serious physical or psychological harm, caused by the person committing one or more offences under section 42 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales is an offence listed in Schedule 3 to SOA 2003;

(b) “qualifying section 42 offence” means an offence under section 42 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales is an offence listed in Schedule 3 or 5 to SOA 2003;

(c) “relevant finding”, in relation to an offence, means—

(i) a finding that a person is not guilty of the offence by reason of insanity; or

(ii) a finding that a person is unfit to stand trial and has done the act charged;

(d) “service community” means persons subject to service law and civilians subject to service discipline;

(e) “SOA 2003” means the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

(7) In construing subsection (6)(a) or (b), any condition subject to which an offence is listed in Schedule 3 to SOA 2003 that relates—

(a) to the way in which a person is dealt with in respect of the offence or a relevant finding, or

(b) to the age of any person,

is to be disregarded.

232B Service SOPOs: appeals U.K.

(1) This section applies where the Court Martial makes an order under section 232A in respect of a relevant finding in relation to a qualifying section 42 offence.

(2) For the purposes of the Court Martial Appeals Act 1968—

(a) the order is to be treated as a sentence passed on the defendant in respect of the offence; and

(b) the defendant is to be treated for the purpose of enabling the defendant to appeal against the order as if the defendant had been convicted of the offence by the court.

(3) For the purposes of any appeal against the order, references in section 16A of the Court Martial Appeals Act 1968 to passing a sentence include making an order.

232C Service SOPOs etc: variation and revocation U.K.

(1) The Court Martial may vary or revoke an order under section 232A on an application made by—

(a) a Provost Marshal; or

(b) the person subject to the order.

(2) If subsection (3) applies, the Court Martial may vary or revoke an order under section 104 of SOA 2003 (sexual offences prevention order) on an application made by—

(a) a Provost Marshal; or

(b) the person subject to the order.

(3) This subsection applies if the person subject to the order under section 104 of SOA 2003 (“the SOA order”) is also subject to an associated order under section 232A and either—

(a) the person is subject to service law or a civilian subject to service discipline; or

(b) the application is made together with an application for the variation or revocation of the associated order under section 232A.

(4) An order may be varied under this section so as to extend the period for which it has effect, or so as to impose additional prohibitions, only if—

(a) in the case of an order under section 232A, the court is satisfied that the variation is necessary for the purpose of protecting the service community outside the United Kingdom from serious sexual harm from the person subject to the order (in which case section 232A(4) applies accordingly);

(b) in the case of an order under section 104 of SOA 2003, the requirements of section 108(5) of that Act are met (protection of public in United Kingdom from serious sexual harm).

(5) The Court Martial must not before the end of the relevant period revoke an order under section 232A, or an order under section 104 of SOA 2003, without the consent of—

(a) the person subject to the order; and

(b) a Provost Marshal.

(6) In subsection (5) “the relevant period” means the period of five years beginning with the day on which the order was made.

(7) For the purposes of this section an order under section 104 of SOA 2003 and an order under section 232A are “associated” if they were made by the Court Martial or the Service Civilian Court in dealing with the same offence or relevant finding.

(8) This section is without prejudice to section 108 of SOA 2003 (application to civilian court for variation etc of a sexual offences prevention order).

232D Variation or revocation: appeals U.K.

(1) A person may appeal to the Court Martial Appeal Court against—

(a) the variation under section 232C of an order to which the person is subject; or

(b) a decision by the Court Martial not to vary or revoke such an order on an application under that section.

(2) On an appeal under subsection (1), the Court Martial Appeal Court may make—

(a) such orders as may be necessary to give effect to its determination of the appeal; and

(b) such incidental or consequential orders as appear to it to be just.

232E Extended prohibitions orders U.K.

(1) On an application made by a Provost Marshal, the Court Martial must make an order under this section in respect of a person within subsection (2) if the relevant requirements are met.

(2) The following are persons within this subsection—

(a) a member of the regular forces;

(b) a member of the reserve forces (whether or not for the time being subject to service law);

(c) a civilian subject to service discipline.

(3) The relevant requirements are met if the Court Martial is satisfied—

(a) that the person is subject to an order under section 104 or 105 of SOA 2003 (“the principal order”); and

(b) that there are members of the service community outside the United Kingdom who would, if in the United Kingdom, be protected by the principal order.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3)(b) a person (“P”) is “protected” by the principal order if one or more of the prohibitions included in the order are for the purposes of the protection of P, or of persons of a description within which P falls.

(5) An order under this section—

(a) prohibits the person subject to the order from doing anything described in the order; and

(b) has effect—

(i) until the expiry of the principal order; or

(ii) if earlier, until the principal order is varied, renewed or discharged under section 108 of SOA 2003.

(6) Only corresponding prohibitions may be included in an order under this section.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6) a “corresponding prohibition” is a prohibition in substantially the same terms as a prohibition in the principal order (“the principal prohibition”), subject to such modifications as are necessary to secure that the prohibition is for the purposes of the protection of members of the service community outside the United Kingdom who would, if in the United Kingdom, be protected by the principal prohibition.

(8) In subsection (7) “protected” is to be construed in accordance with subsection (4).

232F Extended prohibitions orders: appeals U.K.

(1) A person may appeal to the Judge Advocate General against the making of an order under section 232E in respect of the person.

(2) The Secretary of State may by rules make provision about appeals under this section, and the rules may in particular make provision—

(a) specifying the grounds on which an appeal may be brought;

(b) with respect to the procedure which is to apply in connection with an appeal;

(c) with respect to the powers of the Judge Advocate General in relation to an appeal.

232G Offence: breach of order under section 232A or 232E U.K.

(1) A person within subsection (2) (“P”) commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, P does anything which P is prohibited from doing by an order under section 232A or 232E.

(2) The following are persons within this subsection—

(a) a person subject to service law;

(b) a civilian subject to service discipline.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable to any punishment mentioned in the Table in section 164, but any sentence of imprisonment imposed in respect of the offence must not exceed five years.

(4) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section, the court that convicts him may vary or revoke the order to which the offence relates.]

Order for parent or guardian to enter into recognizance U.K.

233 Order for service parent or service guardian to enter into recognizance U.K.

(1) Where—

(a) a person aged under 18 is convicted of an offence by the Court Martial or the Service Civilian Court,

(b) he is a civilian subject to service discipline, and

(c) he has a service parent or service guardian,

the court may, and in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (3) must, exercise the powers conferred by this section.

(2) The powers conferred by this section are as follows—

(a) with the consent of the offender's service parent or service guardian, to order that parent or guardian to enter into a recognizance to take proper care of the offender and exercise proper control over him; and

(b) if the service parent or service guardian refuses consent and the court considers the refusal unreasonable, to order that parent or guardian to pay a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) The circumstances referred to in subsection (1) as those in which the court must exercise the powers conferred by this section are—

(a) that the offender is under 16 when convicted; and

(b) that the court is satisfied, having regard to the circumstances of the case, that the exercise of those powers would be desirable in the interests of preventing the commission by him of further offences.

(4) Where the powers conferred by this section are not exercised in a case where subsection (1) applies and the offender is under 16 when convicted, the court must state in open court that it is not satisfied as mentioned in subsection (3)(b) and why it is not so satisfied.

(5) A parent or guardian is a “service parent” or “service guardian” for the purposes of this section if he is a person subject to service law or a civilian subject to service discipline.

(6) For the purposes of this section, taking “care” of a person includes giving him protection and guidance and “control” includes discipline.

Commencement Information

I9 S. 233 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I10 S. 233 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

234 Recognizances and fines under section 233: further provision U.K.

(1) An order under section 233 must not require the parent or guardian to enter into a recognizance for an amount exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(2) Such an order must not require the parent or guardian to enter into a recognizance—

(a) for a period exceeding three years; or

(b) where the offender will reach the age of 18 in a period shorter than three years, for a period exceeding that shorter period.

(3) In fixing the amount of a recognizance under that section, the court must take into account (among other things) the means of the parent or guardian so far as they appear or are known to the court, and this applies whether taking those means into account has the effect of increasing or reducing the amount of the recognizance.

(4) A recognizance under section 233 may, where the court has passed an overseas community order on the offender, include a provision that the service parent or service guardian ensure that the offender complies with the requirements of that order.

(5) A court imposing a fine under section 233(2)(b) may make an order under section 251 (power to allow payment by instalments), and in relation to such a fine section 251(2) to (7) have effect as if any reference to a service compensation order were omitted.

Commencement Information

I11 S. 234 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I12 S. 234 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

235 Recognizances: appeals, variation and revocation U.K.

(1) For the purposes of sections 285 to 287 (appeals from Service Civilian Court) or, as the case may be, the Court Martial Appeals Act 1968 (c. 20)—

(a) an order under section 233 is to be treated as a sentence passed on the parent or guardian for the offence; and

(b) the parent or guardian is to be treated for the purpose of enabling him to appeal against the order as if he had been convicted of the offence by the court that made the order.

(2) For the purposes of any appeal against the order, references in section 16A of the Court Martial Appeals Act 1968 to passing a sentence include making an order.

(3) On an appeal against the order the Court Martial Appeal Court may (as an alternative to exercising its powers under section 16A(2) of that Act) quash the order.

(4) The Court Martial may vary or revoke an order under section 233 if on the application of the parent or guardian it appears to the court, having regard to any change in the circumstances since the order was made, to be in the interests of justice to do so.

Commencement Information

I13 S. 235 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I14 S. 235 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

236 Forfeiture of recognizance U.K.

(1) Where—

(a) a recognizance under section 233 has been entered into, and

(b) the offender commits a service offence during the period of the recognizance,

the Court Martial or the Service Civilian Court may on convicting the offender of that offence (and subject to subsection (2)) declare the recognizance to be forfeited.

(2) The court may not make such a declaration where the parent or guardian is neither a person subject to service law nor a civilian subject to service discipline.

(3) If a court declares under this section that a recognizance is to be forfeited it must—

(a) adjudge the parent or guardian to pay the sum in which he is bound;

(b) adjudge him to pay part of that sum; or

(c) remit that sum.

(4) A court declaring under this section that a recognizance is to be forfeited may make an order under section 251 (power to allow payment by instalments); and in relation to a forfeiture under this section, section 251(2) to (7) have effect as if references to the fine or service compensation order were to the forfeiture.

Commencement Information

I15 S. 236 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I16 S. 236 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

[F2 Disqualification of offenders for holding elective office etc U.K.

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 236A, 236B and cross-heading inserted (1.11.2023) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), s. 67(1), Sch. 10 para. 8(2) (with s. 66(5)); S.I. 2023/1145, reg. 3(k) (with Sch. paras. 9(3)(4))

236A Disqualification orders U.K.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a person (“the offender”) is convicted of a qualifying section 42 offence by a court,

(b) the offender was aged 18 or over when the offence was committed, and

(c) the court is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the offence is aggravated by hostility related to persons falling within any of sections 32 to 34 of the Elections Act 2022.

(2) The court must, when dealing with the offender for the offence, also make an order (a “disqualification order”) that the offender is disqualified, for the period of 5 years beginning with the date on which the order is made—

(a) for being nominated for election to a relevant elective office, and

(b) for being elected to or holding a relevant elective office.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply where the court considers that there are particular circumstances relating to the offence or to the offender which would make it unjust in all the circumstances to make the order; and in such a case the court must state in open court the reasons for not making the order.

(4) For the purposes of this section an offence is aggravated by hostility related to persons falling within any of sections 32 to 34 of the Elections Act 2022 if—

(a) at the time of committing the offence, or immediately before or after doing so, the offender demonstrated towards the victim of the offence hostility based on the victim being (or being presumed to be) a person falling within any of those sections, or

(b) the offence was motivated (wholly or partly) by hostility towards persons falling within any of those sections in their capacity as such.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4) it is immaterial whether or not the offender's hostility is also based, to any extent, on any other factor not mentioned in that subsection.

(6) For the purpose of deciding whether to make a disqualification order the court may consider evidence led by the parties to the proceedings.

(7) It is immaterial whether evidence led in pursuance of subsection (6) would have been admissible in the proceedings in which the offender was convicted.

(8) Where a qualifying section 42 offence is found to have been committed—

(a) over a period of 2 or more days, or

(b) at some time during a period of 2 or more days,

it is to be taken for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) to have been committed on the last of those days.

(9) For the purposes of any appeal against a disqualification order—

(a) references in section 141 to a finding or punishment include the making of a disqualification order;

(b) references in section 16A of the Court Martial Appeals Act 1968 to passing a sentence include making a disqualification order.

(10) In this section—

• “court” means the court or officer sentencing the offender;

• “presumed” means presumed by the offender;

• “qualifying section 42 offence” means an offence under section 42 (criminal conduct) as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales is an offence listed in Schedule 9 to the Elections Act 2022;

• “relevant elective office” has the same meaning as in Part 5 of the Elections Act 2022 (see section 37 of that Act).

236B Effect of disqualification order U.K.

References (however expressed) in any enactment to an order under section 30 of the Elections Act 2022 include references to an order under section 236A.]