Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52)

Part 3 U.K. Powers of Arrest, Search and Entry

Chapter 1 U.K. Arrest etc

Powers of arrest U.K.

67 Power of arrest for service offence U.K.

(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

[F1 (c) by a person who is lawfully exercising authority on behalf of a provost officer, and who—

(i) is an officer; or

(ii) is acting on the order of an 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.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 67(2)(c) substituted (2.4.2012) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 3 para. 2; S.I. 2012/669, art. 4(d)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 67 modified (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Naval Chaplains) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/826), regs. 1, 4(3) (with reg. 2(c))

Commencement Information

I1 S. 67 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. 67 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4