Part 3Powers of Arrest, Search and Entry

Chapter 1Arrest etc

Powers of arrest

67Power of arrest for service offence

(1)

A person who is reasonably suspected of being engaged in committing, or of having committed, a service offence may be arrested in accordance with subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5) by a person subject to service law.

(2)

An officer may be arrested under subsection (1)—

(a)

by an officer of superior rank or, if engaged in a mutiny, quarrel or disorder, by an officer of any rank;

(b)

by a service policeman; or

(c)

on the order of another officer, by a person who is lawfully exercising authority on behalf of a provost officer.

(3)

A person of or below the rank or rate of warrant officer may be arrested under subsection (1)—

(a)

by an officer;

(b)

by a warrant officer or non-commissioned officer of superior rank or rate;

(c)

by a service policeman;

(d)

by a person who is lawfully exercising authority on behalf of a provost officer; or

(e)

if a member of a ship's company or an embarked force, by a person exercising authority as a member of the staff of the officer of the day.

(4)

A civilian subject to service discipline may be arrested under subsection (1)—

(a)

by an officer;

(b)

by a service policeman; or

(c)

by a person who is lawfully exercising authority on behalf of a provost officer.

(5)

Where none of subsections (2) to (4) applies in relation to the person to be arrested, that person may be arrested under subsection (1) by a service policeman.

(6)

The power of arrest conferred on any person by this section may be exercised—

(a)

personally;

(b)

by giving orders for the arrest of the person who is to be arrested; or

(c)

where that person is subject to service law, by ordering him into arrest.