Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52)

Part 17 U.K. Miscellaneous

Offences relating to service matters punishable by civilian courts U.K.

344 Aiding or abetting etc desertion or absence without leave U.K.

(1) A person commits an offence if he aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of an offence under section 8 (desertion) or 9 (absence without leave).

(2) A person commits an offence if—

(a) he knows that another person (“B”) is subject to service law;

(b) he does an act intending to cause B to be absent without leave; and

(c) it causes B to be absent without leave.

(3) A person (“A”) commits an offence if—

(a) another person (“B”) has committed an offence under section 8 or 9;

(b) A knows or believes B to be guilty of that offence; and

(c) A does an act intending to impede B's apprehension or prosecution.

(4) Subsections (1) to (3) apply to any aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring, or (as the case may be) any act, done—

(a) in a relevant territory;

(b) otherwise than in a relevant territory, by a United Kingdom national (see section 347) or a person resident in a relevant territory.

(5) In subsection (4) “relevant territory” means—

(a) the United Kingdom;

(b) the Isle of Man; or

(c) a British overseas territory.

(6) In subsection (2) (and subsection (4) so far as relating to that subsection) “act” includes an omission, and the references to the doing of an act are to be read accordingly.

(7) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the relevant maximum or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.

(8) In subsection (7) “the relevant maximum” is—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, 12 months;

(b) otherwise, 6 months.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 344 modified by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 18 (as substituted (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2054), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 21(3) (with Sch. 2 para. 14))

Commencement Information

I1 S. 344 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. 344 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4