Section 6
1(1)An offence under section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (criminal conduct) is an “excluded offence” if the corresponding civil offence is an offence referred to in any of paragraphs 2 to 14, 30 and 31.U.K.
(2)In sub-paragraph (1) the reference to section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 is to be taken to include a reference to—
(a)section 70 of the Army Act 1955 (civil offences),
(b)section 70 of the Air Force Act 1955 (civil offences), and
(c)section 42 of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (civil offences).
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 1 para. 1 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
2U.K.An offence under any provision of the Sexual Offences Act 1956.
Commencement Information
I2Sch. 1 para. 2 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
3U.K.An offence under section 1 of the Indecency with Children Act 1960 (indecent conduct towards child under 14).
Commencement Information
I3Sch. 1 para. 3 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
4U.K.An offence under section 1(1) of the Genocide Act 1969 (genocide).
Commencement Information
I4Sch. 1 para. 4 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
5U.K.An offence under section 54 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (inciting child under 16 to commit incest).
Commencement Information
I5Sch. 1 para. 5 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
6U.K.An offence under section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978 (indecent photographs of children).
Commencement Information
I6Sch. 1 para. 6 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
7U.K.An offence under section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (possession of indecent photograph of a child).
Commencement Information
I7Sch. 1 para. 7 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
8U.K.An offence under any provision of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Commencement Information
I8Sch. 1 para. 8 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
9U.K.An offence under section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (possession of extreme pornographic images).
Commencement Information
I9Sch. 1 para. 9 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
10U.K.An offence under section 62 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (possession of prohibited images of children).
Commencement Information
I10Sch. 1 para. 10 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
F111U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Sch. 1 para. 11 omitted (31.1.2024) by virtue of Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50), s. 240(1), Sch. 14 para. 24; S.I. 2024/31, reg. 2
12U.K.An offence under section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (human trafficking) committed with a view to exploitation that consists of or includes behaviour within section 3(3) of that Act (sexual exploitation).
Commencement Information
I11Sch. 1 para. 12 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
13U.K.An offence at common law of outraging public decency.
Commencement Information
I12Sch. 1 para. 13 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
14U.K.An offence within any of paragraphs 18 to 20 (certain offences under the International Criminal Court Act 2001).
Commencement Information
I13Sch. 1 para. 14 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
15U.K.A reference in paragraphs 2 to 14 or paragraphs 30 and 31 to an offence (“offence A”) includes—
(a)a reference to an attempt to commit offence A,
(b)a reference to a conspiracy to commit offence A,
(c)a reference to incitement to commit offence A,
(d)a reference to an offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 in relation to which offence A is the offence (or one of the offences) which the person intended or believed would be committed, and
(e)a reference to aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of offence A.
Commencement Information
I14Sch. 1 para. 15 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
16(1)In paragraph 1(1) the reference to the “corresponding civil offence” is—U.K.
(a)in relation to an offence under section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, to the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales within the meaning of that section;
(b)in relation to an offence under section 70 of the Army Act 1955 or section 70 of the Air Force Act 1955, to the corresponding civil offence within the meaning of that Act;
(c)in relation to an offence under section 42 of the Naval Discipline Act 1957, to the civil offence within the meaning of that section.
(2)Section 48 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (supplementary provisions relating to ancillary service offences) applies for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(a) as it applies for the purposes of the provisions of that Act referred to in subsection (3)(b) of that section.
Commencement Information
I15Sch. 1 para. 16 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
17U.K.An offence under the law of England and Wales or Northern Ireland within any of paragraphs 18 to 23 is an “excluded offence” in that part of the United Kingdom.
Commencement Information
I16Sch. 1 para. 17 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
18U.K.An offence under section 51 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001 (genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes).
Commencement Information
I17Sch. 1 para. 18 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
19U.K.An ancillary offence under the law of England and Wales in relation to an offence within paragraph 18.
Commencement Information
I18Sch. 1 para. 19 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
20U.K.An offence under subsection (1) of section 52 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001 (conduct ancillary to war crimes etc committed outside jurisdiction) where the act referred to in that subsection would, if committed in England and Wales, constitute—
(a)an offence within paragraph 18, or
(b)an offence within this paragraph.
Commencement Information
I19Sch. 1 para. 20 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
21U.K.An offence under section 58 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001 (genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes).
Commencement Information
I20Sch. 1 para. 21 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
22U.K.An ancillary offence under the law of Northern Ireland in relation to an offence within paragraph 21.
Commencement Information
I21Sch. 1 para. 22 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
23U.K.An offence under subsection (1) of section 59 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001 (conduct ancillary to war crimes etc committed outside jurisdiction) where the act referred to in that subsection would, if committed in Northern Ireland, constitute—
(a)an offence within paragraph 21, or
(b)an offence within this paragraph.
Commencement Information
I22Sch. 1 para. 23 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
24U.K.In this Part of this Schedule—
(a)references to an ancillary offence under the law of England and Wales are to be interpreted in accordance with section 55 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001;
(b)references to an ancillary offence under the law of Northern Ireland are to be interpreted in accordance with section 62 of that Act.
Commencement Information
I23Sch. 1 para. 24 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
25U.K.An offence within any of paragraphs 26 to 28 is an “excluded offence” in Scotland.
Commencement Information
I24Sch. 1 para. 25 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
26U.K.An offence under section 1(1) of the International Criminal Court (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 13) (genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes).
Commencement Information
I25Sch. 1 para. 26 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
27U.K.An offence under section 2(1) of that Act (conduct ancillary to war crimes etc) of engaging in conduct ancillary to an act that constitutes—
(a)an offence within paragraph 26, or
(b)an offence within this paragraph or paragraph 28.
Commencement Information
I26Sch. 1 para. 27 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
28U.K.An offence under subsection (3) of section 2 of that Act of engaging in conduct ancillary to an act committed (or intended to be committed) outside Scotland, where—
(a)the offence mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection is an offence within paragraph 26, or
(b)(as the case may be) the offence mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection is an offence within paragraph 27.
Commencement Information
I27Sch. 1 para. 28 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
29U.K.In this Part of this Schedule references to an ancillary offence are to be interpreted in accordance with section 7 of the International Criminal Court (Scotland) Act 2001.
Commencement Information
I28Sch. 1 para. 29 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
30U.K.An offence under section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (torture) is an excluded offence.
Commencement Information
I29Sch. 1 para. 30 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
31U.K.An offence under section 1(1) of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 (grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions) is an excluded offence.
Commencement Information
I30Sch. 1 para. 31 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
32(1)Where by virtue of section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (offences outside the United Kingdom) an act done outside the United Kingdom constitutes an offence under the law of England and Wales or Northern Ireland, that offence is an “excluded offence” in that part of the United Kingdom.U.K.
(2)Where by virtue of subsection (3) of that section proceedings for an offence may be brought against a person in England and Wales or Northern Ireland in respect of an act done outside the United Kingdom, that offence is an “excluded offence” in that part of the United Kingdom.
Commencement Information
I31Sch. 1 para. 32 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
33(1)Where by virtue of Article 76 of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (offences outside the United Kingdom) an act done outside the United Kingdom constitutes an offence under the law of Northern Ireland, that offence is an “excluded offence” in Northern Ireland.U.K.
(2)Where by virtue of paragraph (3) of that Article proceedings for an offence may be brought against a person in Northern Ireland in respect of an act done outside the United Kingdom, that offence is an “excluded offence” in Northern Ireland.
Commencement Information
I32Sch. 1 para. 33 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
34(1)Where by virtue of section 55 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (offences committed outside the United Kingdom) an act done outside the United Kingdom constitutes an offence under the law of Scotland, that offence is an “excluded offence” in Scotland.U.K.
(2)Where by virtue of subsection (2A) of that section proceedings for an offence may be brought against a person in Scotland in respect of an act done outside the United Kingdom, that offence is an “excluded offence” in relation to Scotland.
Commencement Information
I33Sch. 1 para. 34 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
35U.K.Where by virtue of section 7 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 (sexual offences committed outside the United Kingdom) an act done outside the United Kingdom constitutes an offence under the law of England and Wales or Northern Ireland, that offence is an “excluded offence” in that part of the United Kingdom.
Commencement Information
I34Sch. 1 para. 35 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
36U.K.Where by virtue of section 16B of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (commission of certain sexual acts outside the United Kingdom) an act done outside the United Kingdom constitutes an offence under the law of Scotland, that offence is an “excluded offence” in Scotland.
Commencement Information
I35Sch. 1 para. 36 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
Section 8
1(1)Section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980 (discretionary exclusion of time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries or death) is amended as follows.E+W
(2)After subsection (1) insert—
“(1ZA)The court shall not under this section disapply any provision of section 11 in its application to an overseas armed forces action if the action was brought after the expiration of the period of six years from the section 11 relevant date (see subsection (7)).
(1ZB)An “overseas armed forces action” means an action, or cause of action, which—
(a)is against the Ministry of Defence, the Secretary of State for Defence, or any member of Her Majesty's forces,
(b)is brought in connection with overseas operations (see subsection (7)), and
(c)relates to damage that occurred outside the British Islands.
(1ZC)In subsection (1ZB), “damage” means—
(a)in the case of an overseas armed forces action for which a period of limitation is prescribed by section 11, the personal injuries to which the action relates;
(b)in the case of an overseas armed forces action for which a period of limitation is prescribed by section 12(2), the death to which the action relates (and where a person sustains personal injuries outside the British Islands which are a substantial cause of their later death in any of the British Islands, or vice versa, the death is for the purposes of subsection (1ZB)(c) to be treated as occurring where the injuries were sustained).”
(3)After subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)But where the reason why the person injured could no longer maintain an action was because of the time limit in section 11, the court may disapply section 12(1) in its application to an overseas armed forces action only if the person died within the period of six years beginning with the section 11 relevant date (ignoring, for this purpose, the reference to section 11(5) in paragraph (a) of the definition of that term).
(2B)The court shall not under this section disapply section 12(2) in its application to an overseas armed forces action if the action was brought after the expiration of the period of six years from the section 12 relevant date (see subsection (7)).”
(4)After subsection (5) insert—
“(5A)In acting under this section in relation to an overseas armed forces action—
(a)when considering the factor mentioned in subsection (3)(b), the court must have particular regard to—
(i)the likely impact of the operational context on the ability of members of Her Majesty's forces to remember relevant events or actions fully or accurately, and
(ii)the extent of dependence on the memories of members of Her Majesty's forces, taking into account the effect of the operational context on their ability to record, or to retain records of, relevant events or actions; and
(b)the court must also have particular regard to the likely impact of the action on the mental health of any witness or potential witness who is a member of Her Majesty's forces.
(5B)In subsection (5A) references to “the operational context” are to the fact that the events to which the action relates took place in the context of overseas operations, and include references to the exceptional demands and stresses to which members of Her Majesty's forces are subject.”
(5)After subsection (6) insert—
“(6A)In the application of subsection (1ZA), (2A) or (2B) to an overseas armed forces action in respect of which a limitation period has been suspended in accordance with section 1(1) of the Limitation (Enemies and War Prisoners) Act 1945, any reference to the period of six years is to be treated as a reference to the period of six years plus—
(a)the period during which the limitation period was suspended, and
(b)any extra period after the suspension ended during which the action could have been brought only because of an extension provided for by section 1(1) of that Act.”
(6)For subsection (7) substitute—
“(7)In this section—
“the court” means the court in which the action has been brought;
“Her Majesty's forces” has the same meaning as in the Armed Forces Act 2006 (see section 374 of that Act);
“overseas operations” means any operations outside the British Islands, including peacekeeping operations and operations for dealing with terrorism, civil unrest or serious public disorder, in the course of which members of Her Majesty's forces come under attack or face the threat of attack or violent resistance;
“the section 11 relevant date” means the latest of the following—
the date from which the period of three years starts to run in accordance with section 11(4) or (5);
where section 28 applies, the date from which the period of three years mentioned in subsection (1) of that section (as that subsection has effect with the modification made by subsection (6) of that section) starts to run;
where section 32(1)(a) or (b) applies, the date from which the period of three years starts to run in accordance with subsection (1) of that section;
“the section 12 relevant date” means the latest of the following—
the date from which the period of three years starts to run in accordance with section 12(2);
where section 28 applies, the date from which the period of three years mentioned in subsection (1) of that section (as that subsection has effect with the modification made by subsection (6) of that section) starts to run.”
(7)In subsection (8), after “this section” in the first place it occurs, insert “—
(a)to the British Islands include the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom and the territorial sea adjacent to any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (and the reference to any of the British Islands is to be read accordingly);
(b)to a member of Her Majesty's forces, in relation to an overseas armed forces action, include an individual who was a member of Her Majesty's forces at the time of the events to which the action relates;
(c)”.
Commencement Information
I36Sch. 2 para. 1 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
2(1)The Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984 is amended as follows.E+W
(2)In section 1 (application of foreign limitation law), in subsection (1)(a), after “subject to” insert “ section 1ZA and ”.
(3)After section 1 insert—
(1)Subsection (3) applies where—
(a)the law of another country relating to limitation applies by reason of section 1(1)(a) in respect of a matter for the purposes of an overseas armed forces tort action, and
(b)the commencement condition applies in relation to that action,
and in this section the law relating to limitation that applies for the purposes of that action is referred to as “the relevant foreign limitation law”.
(2)The commencement condition applies in relation to an overseas armed forces tort action if the action commenced on a date which is after the end of the period of six years beginning with—
(a)the date on which any limitation period specified in the relevant foreign limitation law began to run, or
(b)where the relevant foreign limitation law has the effect that the action may be commenced within an indefinite period, the first date on which the action could have been commenced.
(3)The relevant foreign limitation law is to be treated as providing the defendant with a complete defence to the action so far as relating to the matter (where that would not otherwise be the case).
(4)An “overseas armed forces tort action” means an action—
(a)which is an overseas armed forces action as defined in section 33(1ZB) of the Limitation Act 1980, and
(b)which (under the law of the other country that falls to be taken into account) corresponds to—
(i)an action to which section 11 of that Act applies (personal injuries),
(ii)an action in respect of false imprisonment, or
(iii)an action under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 (death).
(5)In the application of subsection (2) to an action in respect of which—
(a)in accordance with the relevant foreign limitation law, a limitation period specified in that law has been suspended or interrupted for a period by reason of a person's lacking legal capacity or being under a disability, or
(b)in accordance with the relevant foreign limitation law, a period during which a person lacks legal capacity or is under a disability has been disregarded in computing a limitation period specified in that law,
the reference to the period of six years is to be treated as a reference to the period of six years plus the period of suspension or interruption or (as the case may be) the period that was so disregarded.
(6)In the application of subsection (2) to an action in respect of which a limitation period specified in the relevant foreign limitation law has been suspended in accordance with section 1(1) of the Limitation (Enemies and War Prisoners) Act 1945, the reference to the period of six years is to be treated as a reference to the period of six years plus—
(a)the period during which the limitation period was suspended, and
(b)any extra period after the suspension ended during which the action could have been brought only because of an extension provided for by section 1(1) of that Act.”
(4)In section 7 (short title etc), after subsection (3) insert—
“(3A)Section 1ZA (overseas armed forces actions: restriction of foreign limitation law) applies to an action commenced in England and Wales on or after the date on which that section comes into force, whenever the events to which the action relates took place.”
(5)In section 8 (disapplication of provisions where the law applicable to limitation is determined by other instruments), in the heading and in subsection (1), after “1,” insert “ 1ZA, ”.
Commencement Information
I37Sch. 2 para. 2 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
Section 9
1(1)The Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 is amended as follows.S
(2)In section 19A (power of court to override time-limits etc), in subsection (1), after “that provision” insert “ (but see section 19AA) ”.
(3)After section 19A, insert—
(1)This section applies where the court is considering whether to exercise its power under section 19A to override time-limits in respect of an overseas armed forces action (see subsection (11)).
(2)The court must exercise its power—
(a)in accordance with subsection (3), and
(b)subject to the rules in subsections (5) to (7).
(3)The court must have particular regard to—
(a)the effect of the delay in bringing the action on the cogency of evidence adduced or likely to be adduced by the parties, with particular reference to—
(i)the likely impact of the operational context on the ability of members of Her Majesty's forces to remember relevant events or actions fully or accurately, and
(ii)the extent of dependence on the memories of members of Her Majesty's forces, taking into account the effect of the operational context on their ability to record, or to retain records of, relevant events or actions; and
(b)the likely impact of the action on the mental health of any witness or potential witness who is a member of Her Majesty's forces.
(4)In subsection (3)(a) references to “the operational context” are to the fact that the events to which the action relates took place in the context of overseas operations, and include references to the exceptional demands and stresses to which members of Her Majesty's forces are subject.
(5)The first rule referred to in subsection (2)(b) is that an overseas armed forces action for which a limitation period is specified in section 17 must be brought within the period of 6 years beginning with the section 17 relevant date.
(6)The second rule referred to in subsection (2)(b) is that an overseas armed forces action for which a limitation period is specified in section 18(2) must be brought within the period of 6 years beginning with the section 18 relevant date.
(7)The third rule referred to in subsection (2)(b) is that, in respect of an overseas armed forces action to which section 18 applies, the court may exercise its power to override section 18(4) only if the injured person in question died within the period of 6 years beginning with the section 17 relevant date.
(8)In the application of the rule in subsection (5) or (7) to an action in respect of which (in accordance with section 17(3)) any time has been disregarded when computing the limitation period specified in section 17(2) for the purposes of section 17 or 18(4) (as the case may be), the reference to the period of 6 years is to be treated as a reference to the period of 6 years plus the period that was so disregarded.
(9)In the application of the rule in subsection (6) to an action in respect of which (in accordance with section 18(3)) any time has been disregarded when computing the limitation period specified in section 18(2), the reference to the period of 6 years is to be treated as a reference to the period of 6 years plus the period that was so disregarded.
(10)In the application of the rule in subsection (5) or (7) to an overseas armed forces action in respect of which a limitation period has been suspended in accordance with section 1(1) of the Limitation (Enemies and War Prisoners) Act 1945 (as modified by section 4 of that Act), any reference to the period of 6 years is to be treated as a reference to the period of 6 years plus—
(a)the period during which the limitation period was suspended, and
(b)any extra period after the suspension ended during which the action could have been brought only because of an extension provided for by section 1(1) of that Act.
(11)In this section, an “overseas armed forces action” means an action which, or an action which includes a claim which—
(a)is against the Ministry of Defence, the Secretary of State for Defence, or any member of Her Majesty's forces,
(b)is brought in connection with overseas operations (see subsection (13)), and
(c)relates to damage that occurred outside the British Islands.
(12)In subsection (11), “damage” means—
(a)in the case of an overseas armed forces action for which a limitation period is specified in section 17, the personal injuries to which the action relates;
(b)in the case of an overseas armed forces action for which a limitation period is specified in section 18(2), the death to which the action relates (and where a person sustains personal injuries outside the British Islands which are a substantial cause of their later death in any of the British Islands, or vice versa, the death is for the purposes of subsection (11)(c) to be treated as occurring where the injuries were sustained).
(13)In this section—
“Her Majesty's forces” has the same meaning as in the Armed Forces Act 2006 (see section 374 of that Act);
“overseas operations” means any operations outside the British Islands, including peacekeeping operations and operations for dealing with terrorism, civil unrest or serious public disorder, in the course of which members of Her Majesty's forces come under attack or face the threat of attack or violent resistance;
“the section 17 relevant date” means the date from which the period of 3 years starts to run in accordance with subsection (2) of section 17;
“the section 18 relevant date” means the date from which the period of 3 years starts to run in accordance with subsection (2) of section 18.
(14)In this section, references—
(a)to the British Islands include the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom and the territorial sea adjacent to any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (and the reference to any of the British Islands is to be read accordingly);
(b)to a member of Her Majesty's forces, in relation to an overseas armed forces action, include an individual who was a member of Her Majesty's forces at the time of the events to which the action relates.”
Commencement Information
I38Sch. 3 para. 1 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
2(1)The Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 is amended as follows.S
(2)In section 23A (private international law application)—
(a)in subsection (1), after “to enforce the obligation” insert “ , subject to section 23B, ”, and
(b)in subsection (4), after “This section” insert “ and section 23B ”.
(3)After section 23A, insert—
(1)Subsection (3) applies where—
(a)the law of a country other than Scotland relating to the extinction of an obligation or the limitation of time within which an action may be brought to enforce an obligation is to be applied by virtue of section 23A(1) in an overseas armed forces personal injuries action, and
(b)the commencement condition applies in relation to that action,
and in this section the law mentioned in paragraph (a) that is to be applied in that action is referred to as “the relevant foreign limitation law”.
(2)The commencement condition applies in relation to an overseas armed forces personal injuries action if the action commenced on a date which is after the end of the period of 6 years beginning with—
(a)the date on which any limitation period specified in the relevant foreign limitation law began to run, or
(b)where the relevant foreign limitation law has the effect that the action may be commenced within an indefinite period, the first date on which the action could have been commenced,
and in this section “limitation period” includes a prescriptive period (however expressed in the relevant foreign limitation law).
(3)The relevant foreign limitation law is to be treated as providing the defender with a complete defence to the action so far as relating to the obligation (where that would not otherwise be the case).
(4)An “overseas armed forces personal injuries action” means an action—
(a)which is an overseas armed forces action as defined in section 19AA(11), and
(b)which (under the substantive law of the other country that falls to be applied) corresponds to an action to which section 17 or 18 applies (actions in respect of personal injuries or death).
(5)In the application of subsection (2) to an action in respect of which—
(a)in accordance with the relevant foreign limitation law, a limitation period specified in that law has been suspended or interrupted for a period by reason of a person's lacking legal capacity or being under a disability, or
(b)in accordance with the relevant foreign limitation law, a period during which a person lacks legal capacity or is under a disability has been disregarded in computing a limitation period specified in that law,
the reference to the period of 6 years is to be treated as a reference to the period of 6 years plus the period of suspension or interruption or (as the case may be) the period that was so disregarded.”
Commencement Information
I39Sch. 3 para. 2 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
Section 10
1(1)Article 50 of the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1339 (N.I. 11)) (court's power to override certain time limits) is amended as follows.N.I.
(2)After paragraph (1) insert—
“(1A)The court must not under this Article disapply any provision of Article 7 in its application to an overseas armed forces action if the action was brought after the expiration of the period of six years from the Article 7 relevant date (see paragraph (8)).
(1B)An “overseas armed forces action” means an action, or cause of action, which—
(a)is against the Ministry of Defence, the Secretary of State for Defence, or any member of Her Majesty's forces,
(b)is brought in connection with overseas operations (see paragraph (8)), and
(c)relates to damage that occurred outside the British Islands.
(1C)In paragraph (1B), “damage” means—
(a)in the case of an overseas armed forces action for which a period of limitation is fixed by Article 7, the personal injuries to which the action relates;
(b)in the case of an overseas armed forces action for which a period of limitation is fixed by Article 9(3), the death to which the action relates (and where a person sustains personal injuries outside the British Islands which are a substantial cause of their later death in any of the British Islands, or vice versa, the death is for the purposes of paragraph (1B)(c) to be treated as occurring where the injuries were sustained).”
(3)After paragraph (3) insert—
“(3A)But where the reason why the person injured could no longer maintain an action was because of the time limit in Article 7, the court may disapply Article 9(2) in its application to an overseas armed forces action only if the person died within the period of six years beginning with the Article 7 relevant date (ignoring, for this purpose, the reference to Article 7(5) in paragraph (a) of the definition of that term).
(3B)The court must not under this Article disapply Article 9(3) in its application to an overseas armed forces action if the action was brought after the expiration of the period of six years from the Article 9 relevant date (see paragraph (8)).”
(4)After paragraph (6) insert—
“(6A)In acting under this Article in relation to an overseas armed forces action—
(a)when considering the factor mentioned in paragraph (4)(b), the court must have particular regard to—
(i)the likely impact of the operational context on the ability of members of Her Majesty's forces to remember relevant events or actions fully or accurately, and
(ii)the extent of dependence on the memories of members of Her Majesty's forces, taking into account the effect of the operational context on their ability to record, or to retain records of, relevant events or actions; and
(b)the court must also have particular regard to the likely impact of the action on the mental health of any witness or potential witness who is a member of Her Majesty's forces.
(6B)In paragraph (6A) references to “the operational context” are to the fact that the events to which the action relates took place in the context of overseas operations, and include references to the exceptional demands and stresses to which members of Her Majesty's forces are subject.”
(5)After paragraph (7) insert—
“(7A)In the application of paragraph (1A), (3A) or (3B) to an overseas armed forces action in respect of which a limitation period has been suspended in accordance with section 1(1) of the Limitation (Enemies and War Prisoners) Act 1945, any reference to the period of six years is to be treated as a reference to the period of six years plus—
(a)the period during which the limitation period was suspended, and
(b)any extra period after the suspension ended during which the action could have been brought only because of an extension provided for by section 1(1) of that Act.”
(6)For paragraph (8) substitute—
“(8)In this Article—
“the Article 7 relevant date” means the latest of the following—
the date from which the period of three years starts to run in accordance with Article 7(4) or (5);
where Article 48 applies, the date from which the period of three years mentioned in paragraph (1) of that Article (as that paragraph has effect with the modification made by paragraph (5) of that Article) starts to run;
where Article 71(1)(a) or (b) applies, the date from which the period of three years starts to run in accordance with paragraph (1) of that Article;
“the Article 9 relevant date” means the latest of the following—
the date from which the period of three years starts to run in accordance with Article 9(3);
where Article 48 applies, the date from which the period of three years mentioned in paragraph (1) of that Article (as that paragraph has effect with the modification made by paragraph (5) of that Article) starts to run;
“the British Islands” means the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;
“the court” means the court in which the action has been brought;
“Her Majesty's forces” has the same meaning as in the Armed Forces Act 2006 (see section 374 of that Act);
“overseas operations” means any operations outside the British Islands, including peacekeeping operations and operations for dealing with terrorism, civil unrest or serious public disorder, in the course of which members of Her Majesty's forces come under attack or face the threat of attack or violent resistance.”
(7)In paragraph (9), after “this Article” insert “—
(a)to the British Islands include the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom and the territorial sea adjacent to any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (and the reference to any of the British Islands is to be read accordingly);
(b)to a member of Her Majesty's forces, in relation to an overseas armed forces action, include an individual who was a member of Her Majesty's forces at the time of the events to which the action relates;
(c)”.
Commencement Information
I40Sch. 4 para. 1 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2
2(1)The Foreign Limitation Periods (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (S.I. 1985/754 (N.I. 5)) is amended as follows.N.I.
(2)In Article 3 (application of foreign limitation law), in paragraph (1)(a), after “proceedings” insert “ , subject to Article 3A ”.
(3)After Article 3 insert—
3A(1)Paragraph (3) applies where—
(a)the law of another country relating to limitation applies by reason of Article 3(1)(a) in respect of a matter for the purposes of an overseas armed forces tort action, and
(b)the commencement condition applies in relation to that action,
and in this Article the law relating to limitation that applies for the purposes of that action is referred to as “the relevant foreign limitation law”.
(2)The commencement condition applies in relation to an overseas armed forces tort action if the action commenced on a date which is after the end of the period of 6 years beginning with—
(a)the date on which any limitation period specified in the relevant foreign limitation law began to run, or
(b)where the relevant foreign limitation law has the effect that the action may be commenced within an indefinite period, the first date on which the action could have been commenced.
(3)The relevant foreign limitation law is to be treated as providing the defendant with a complete defence to the action so far as relating to the matter (where that would not otherwise be the case).
(4)An “overseas armed forces tort action” means an action—
(a)which is an overseas armed forces action as defined in Article 50(1B) of the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, and
(b)which (under the law of the other country that falls to be taken into account) corresponds to—
(i)an action to which Article 7 of that Order applies (personal injuries),
(ii)an action in respect of false imprisonment, or
(iii)an action under the Fatal Accidents (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (death).
(5)In the application of paragraph (2) to an action in respect of which—
(a)in accordance with the relevant foreign limitation law, a limitation period specified in that law has been suspended or interrupted for a period by reason of a person's lacking legal capacity or being under a disability, or
(b)in accordance with the relevant foreign limitation law, a period during which a person lacks legal capacity or is under a disability has been disregarded in computing a limitation period specified in that law,
the reference to the period of 6 years is to be treated as a reference to the period of 6 years plus the period of suspension or interruption or (as the case may be) the period that was so disregarded.
(6)In the application of paragraph (2) to an action in respect of which a limitation period specified in the relevant foreign limitation law has been suspended in accordance with section 1(1) of the Limitation (Enemies and War Prisoners) Act 1945, the reference to the period of 6 years is to be treated as a reference to the period of 6 years plus—
(a)the period during which the limitation period was suspended, and
(b)any extra period after the suspension ended during which the action could have been brought only because of an extension provided for by section 1(1) of that Act.”
(4)In Article 8 (transitional provisions), after paragraph (2) insert—
“(3)Article 3A (overseas armed forces actions: restriction of foreign limitation law) applies to an action commenced in Northern Ireland on or after the date on which that Article comes into force, whenever the events to which the action relates took place.”
(5)In Article 9 (disapplication of provisions where the law applicable to limitation is determined by other instruments), in paragraph (1), after “Articles 3” insert “ , 3A ”.
Commencement Information
I41Sch. 4 para. 2 in force at 30.6.2021 by S.I. 2021/678, reg. 2