- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (19/07/2006)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 01/01/2008
Point in time view as at 19/07/2006.
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Army Act 1955 (repealed), Part V.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. V extended by Reserve Forces Act 1980 (c. 9), s. 142
Textual Amendments applied to the whole legislation
F47Act: the provisions of the 1955 Acts providing for findings of courts-martial to be subject to confirmation and to revision at the direction of the confirming officer cease to have effect (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by virtue of 1996 c. 46, s. 15; S.I. 1997/304, arts. 2, 3, Sch. 2
(1)It is hereby declared for the avoidance of doubt that Her Majesty may make regulations as to thepersons, being members of Her Majesty’s forces, in whom command over Her Majesty’s military forces, or anypart or member thereof, is to be vested and as to the circumstances in which such command as aforesaid isto be exercised.
(2)In relation to members of Her Majesty’s military forces when in aircraft, the last foregoing subsectionshall have effect as if references to members of Her Majesty’s forces included references to any person incommand of an aircraft.
(3)Nothing in this section shall affect any power vested in Her Majesty apart from this section.
In so far as powers of command depend on rank, a member of any of Her Majesty’s naval or air forceswho—
(a)is acting with, or
(b)is a member of a body of any of those forces which is acting with,
any body of the regular forces shall have the like such powers as a member of the regular forces ofcorresponding rank; and for the purposes of sections thirty-three and seventy-four of this Act any suchmember of the said naval or air forces shall be treated as if he were a member of the regular forces ofcorresponding rank.
(1)An officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier of the regular forces may be attachedtemporarily to any of Her Majesty’s naval or air forces.
(2)Regulations made by [F1the Defence Council] may prescribe circumstances in which officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers andsoldiers of the regular forces shall be deemed to be attached to any of Her Majesty’s naval or air forces,as the case may be, under the last foregoing subsection.
(3)
F2(4)A person shall not cease to be subject to military law by reason only of attachment in pursuance of thissection.
Textual Amendments
F1Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I
F2S. 179(3) repealed by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2S. 179 extended by Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), s. 113(1)
(1)If a person subject to military law thinks himself wronged in any matter relating to his service he may make a complaint with respect to that matter to such officer as may be prescribed.
[F4(2)A person (“the person aggrieved”) may not make a complaint under this section with respect to— . (a) any decision of a judicial officer or judge advocate under section 75C, 75F, 75G, 75H, 75J or 75K of this Act, . (b) any decision of a judicial officer under Part 2 of the Armed Forces Act 2001, . (c) any matter against which the person aggrieved may present a petition under section 113 of this Act, or . (d) any matter against which the person aggrieved may bring an appeal under section 83ZE of this Act or under the Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968.” ]
(3)The procedure for making and dealing with a complaint under this section shall be laid down in Queen’s Regulations, which may, in particular, provide—
(a)for a complaint not to be made after the end of such period as may be prescribed;
(b)for any such period to be extended, in the case of a complaint made after the end of the period, in such circumstances as may be prescribed;
(c)for a complaint to be referred, for its first consideration, by the officer to whom it was made to a superior officer; and
(d)if the complainant does not obtain the redress to which he thinks he is entitled (whether from the officer who first considered the complaint or from a superior officer by virtue of provision made as mentioned in this paragraph), for the complaint to be referred to, and considered by, a superior officer.
(4)Any period prescribed for the purposes mentioned in subsection (3)(a) above shall not be less than three months beginning with the day on which the matter complained of occurred.
(5)An officer to whom a complaint is made or referred under provision made by virtue of subsection (3) above shall grant any redress which appears to him necessary.
(6)If the complainant does not obtain the redress to which he thinks he is entitled by the procedure referred to in subsection (3) above, he may submit his complaint to the Defence Council in accordance with the procedure laid down in Queen’s Regulations.
(7)The Defence Council shall have any complaint submitted to them investigated and shall grant any redress which appears to them necessary.
(8)Where a complaint by an officer has been submitted to the Defence Council and he does not obtain the redress to which he thinks he is entitled, the Defence Council shall, at his request, make a report on the complaint through the Secretary of State to Her Majesty in order to receive the directions of Her Majesty thereon.
(9)This section applies to a person who is not subject to military law, in relation to any matter which took place while he was so subject, as it applies to a person who is subject to military law.
(10)In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by Queen’s Regulations.]
Textual Amendments
F3S. 180 substituted (1.10.1997) by 1996 c. 46, s. 20(1); S.I. 1997/2164, art. 2 (with Sch.)
F4S. 180(2) substituted (30.9.2003) by Armed Forces Act 2001 (c. 19), s. 39(2), Sch. 6 para. 41; S.I. 2003/2268, art. 2 (with art. 3)
Textual Amendments
F5S. 181 repealed (1.5.2001) by 1996 c. 46, s. 35(2), Sch. 7 Pt. III; S.I. 2001/1519, art. 2(1)(b)
An officer of the regular forces on the active list (as defined by Royal Warrant) shall not be capableof being nominated or elected to be sheriff of any county, borough, or other place.
Textual Amendments
F6S. 183 repealed by (E.W) Criminal Justice Act 1972 (c. 71), Sch. 6 Pt. I, (N.I.) S.I.1974/2143 (N.I.6), Sch. 5 and (S.) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 55), Sch.3
(1)Duties or tolls for embarking from or disembarking on any pier, wharf, quay or landing place in theUnited Kingdom or any colony, or for passing over any road or bridge in the United Kingdom or any colony,shall not be payable in respect of—
(a)members of the regular forces on duty;
(b)vehicles in military service, being vehicles belonging to the Crown or other vehicles driven by persons(whether members of Her Majesty’s forces or not) in the service of the Crown;
(c)goods carried in such vehicles;
(d)horses or other animals in military service.
(2)In the last foregoing subsection the expression “in military service” means employed under proper military authority for the purposes ofany body of the regular forces or accompanying any body of the regular forces.
(3)Members of the regular forces on duty when using ferries in Scotland shall be entitled to be carriedat half rate.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C3S. 184 extended by S.I. 1965/1536, art. 12(2), Sch. 3 and Reserve Forces Act 1980 (c.9), ss. 84(a), 119(a)
C4S. 184 modified (1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 14, s. 124(2); S.I. 1997/305, art. 2(1)
No judgment or order given or made against a member of any of Her Majesty’s military forces by any courtin the United Kingdom or a colony shall be enforced by the levying of execution on any property of theperson against whom it is given or made, being arms, ammunition, equipment, instruments or clothing usedby him for military purposes.
(1)A constable may arrest any person whom he has reasonable cause to suspect of being an officer, warrantofficer, non-commissioned officer or soldier of the regular forces who has deserted or is absent withoutleave.
(2)Where no constable is available, any officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier ofthe regular forces, or any other person, may arrest any person whom he has reasonable cause to suspect asaforesaid.
(3)Any person having authority to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person charged with crime, ifsatisfied by evidence on oath that there is, or is reasonably suspected of being, within his jurisdictionan officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier of the regular forces who has deserted oris absent without leave or is reasonably suspected of having deserted or of being absent without leave, mayissue a warrant authorising his arrest.
(4)Any person in custody in pursuance of this section shall as soon as practicable be brought before acourt of summary jurisdiction.
[F7(4A)A person shall also be brought before a court of summary jurisdiction if, having been brought beforesuch a court by virtue of subsection (4) above and discharged by that court by virtue of section 187(3)below—
(a)he is subsequently arrested as an alleged or suspected deserter or absentee without leave under section74 of this Act, or under a warrant issued under section 190A thereof, and
(b)the question whether he is in fact in desertion or absent without leave raises any issue which wasinvestigated by the court discharging him, and
(c)he does not admit that he is in desertion or absent without leave to the person arresting him under thesaid section 74 or, as the case may be, to the person into whose custody he is delivered pursuant to thesaid section 190A.]
(5)This section shall have effect in the United Kingdom and in any colony.
Textual Amendments
F7S. 186(4A) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 56(1)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C5S. 186 extended by Guyana Independence Act 1966 (c. 14), s. 5(2)
(1)Where a person who is brought before a court of summary jurisdiction is alleged to be an officer,warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier of the regular forces who has deserted or is absentwithout leave, the following provisions shall have effect.
(2)If he admits that he is illegally absent from the regular forces and the court is satisfied of the truthof the admission, then—
(a)unless he is in custody for some other cause the court shall, and
(b)notwithstanding that he is in custody for some other cause, the court may,
forthwith either cause him to be delivered into military custody in such manner as the court may thinkfit or [F8, where it is unable to do so, adjourn the proceedings and remand him for such time as appears reasonably necessary for the purpose of arranging for him to be delivered into military custody.].
(3)If he does not admit that he is illegally absent as aforesaid, or the court is not satisfied of thetruth of the admission, the court shall consider the evidence and any statement of the accused, and ifsatisfied that he is subject to military law and if of opinion that there is sufficient evidence to justifyhis being tried under this Act for an offence of desertion or absence without leave then, unless he is incustody for some other cause, the court shall cause him to be delivered into military custody or [F8, where it is unable to do so, adjourn the proceedings and remand him for such time as appears reasonably necessary for the purpose of arranging for him to be delivered into military custody.], but otherwise shall discharge him:
Provided that if he is in custody for some other cause the court shall have power, but shall not berequired, to act in accordance with this subsection.
(4)The following provisions of [F9the M1Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980], or any corresponding enactment in force as respects the court in question, that is to say theprovisions relating to the constitution and procedure of courts of summary jurisdiction acting as examiningjustices and conferring powers of adjournment and remand on such courts so acting, and the provisions asto evidence and the issue and enforcement of summonses or warrants to secure the attendance of witnesses,shall apply to any proceedings under this section.
[F10(4A)For the purposes of any proceedings under this section, a certificate which states that a person is amember of, and illegally absent from, the regular forces, and purports to be signed by an officer who, ifthat person were charged with an offence, would be either his commanding officer or authorised to act ashis appropriate superior authority, shall be evidence of the matters so stated.]
(5)This section shall have effect in the United Kingdom and in any colony.
Textual Amendments
F8Words in s. 187(2)(3) substituted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 4, s. 9(1)(a)(b); S.I. 2000/2366, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings)
F9Words substituted by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43), Sch. 7 para. 12
F10S. 187(4A) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 56(2)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C6S. 187 extended by Guyana Independence Act 1966 (c. 14), s. 5(2)
Marginal Citations
(1)Where in the United Kingdom or any colony a person surrenders himself to a constable as being illegallyabsent from the regular forces, the constable shall (unless he surrenders himself at a police station) bringhim to a police station.
(2)The officer of police in charge of a police station at which a person has surrendered himself asaforesaid, or to which a person who has so surrendered himself is brought, shall forthwith inquire into thecase, and if it appears to that officer that the said person is illegally absent as aforesaid he may causehim to be delivered into military custody without bringing him before a court of summary jurisdiction ormay bring him before such a court.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C7S. 188 extended by Guyana Independence Act 1966 (c. 14), s. 5(2)
(1)Where a court of summary jurisdiction in pursuance of section one hundred and eighty-seven of this Act deals with a person as illegally absent, then when that person is delivered into military custody there shall be handed over with him a certificate in the prescribed form, signed by a justice of the peace [F11or (in Northern Ireland) resident magistrate], containing the prescribed particulars as to his arrest or surrender and the proceedings before the court;and for any such certificate there shall be payable to the [F12proper officer] of the court, by such person as [F13the Defence Council] may direct, such fee (if any) as may be prescribed.
(2)Where under the last foregoing section a person is delivered into military custody without being brought before a court, there shall be handed over with him a certificate in the prescribed form, signed by the officer of police who causes him to be delivered into military custody, containing the prescribed particulars relating to his surrender.
(3)In any proceedings for an offence under section thirty-seven or thirty-eight of this Act—
(a)a document purporting to be a certificate under either of the two last foregoing subsections and to besigned as thereby required, shall be evidence of the matters stated in the document;
[F14(aa)where the proceedings are against a person who has surrendered himself to a consular officer, a certificate purporting to be signed by that officer and stating the fact, date, time and place of surrender shall be evidence of the matters stated in the certificate;]
(b)where the proceedings are against a person who has been taken into military, naval or air-force custody on arrest or surrender, a certificate purporting to be signed by a provost officer, or any corresponding officer of a Commonwealth force or a force raised under the law of a colony, or by any other officer incharge of the guardroom or other place where that person was confined on being taken into custody, stating the fact, date, time and place of arrest or surrender shall be evidence of the matters stated in thecertificate.
[F15(3A)In subsection (1) of this section “proper officer” means—
(a)in relation to a court of summary jurisdiction in England and Wales, the [F16designated officer] for the court; and
(b)in relation to a court of summary jurisdiction elsewhere, the clerk of the court.]
(4)In this section the expression “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by a Secretary of State by statutoryinstrument.
Textual Amendments
F11Words in s. 189(1) inserted (1.4.2005) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), s. 87(1), Sch. 4 para. 10; S.R. 2005/109, art. 2, Sch.
F12Words in s. 189(1) substituted (1.4.2001) by 1999 c. 22, s. 90(1), Sch. 13 para. 17(1)(2) (with s. 107, Sch. 14 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2001/916, art. 2(a)(ii)
F13Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I
F14S. 189(3)(aa) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 56(3)
F15S. 189(3A) inserted (1.4.2001) by 1999 c. 22, s. 90(1), Sch. 13 para. 17(1)(3) (with s. 107, Sch. 14 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2001/916, art. 2(a)(ii)
F16Words in s. 189(3A)(a) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 110(1), Sch. 8 para. 95(a); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C8S. 189 extended by Guyana Independence Act 1966 (c. 14), s. 5(2)
C9S. 189(1) amended by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), s. 30
(1)It shall be the duty of the governor of a civil prison in the United Kingdom or of the superintendentor other person in charge of a civil prison in a colony to receive any person duly committed to that prisonby a court of summary jurisdiction as illegally absent from the regular forces and to detain him until inaccordance with the directions of the court he is delivered into military custody.
(2)The last foregoing subsection shall apply to the person having charge of any police station or otherplace (not being a prison) provided for the confinement of persons in custody, whether in the United Kingdomor in a colony, as it applies to the governor or superintendent of a prison.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C10S. 190 extended by Guyana Independence Act 1966 (c. 14), s. 5(2)
(1)A warrant for the arrest of a person suspected of any offence under Part II of this Act may be issuedby his commanding officer (determined for the purposes of this subsection as if that person had been chargedwith the offence).
(2)A warrant issued under this section shall be addressed to an officer or officers of police, and shallspecify the name of the person for whose arrest it is issued and the offences which he is alleged to havecommitted; and any such warrant may be issued in respect of two or more persons alleged to have committedthe same offence, or offences of the same class.
(3)A person arrested under a warrant issued under this section shall as soon as practicable be deliveredinto military custody; and there shall be handed over with him a certificate signed by the officer of policewho causes him to be delivered into military custody stating the fact, date, time and place of arrest, andwhether or not the person arrested was at the time of arrest wearing the uniform of any of Her Majesty’smilitary forces.
(4)A certificate under subsection (3) above shall be in such form as may be prescribed by regulations madeby a Secretary of State by statutory instrument and shall for the purposes of this Act be evidence of thematters stated therein.]
Textual Amendments
F17Ss. 190A, 190B inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 44(2)
(1)A constable may arrest without warrant any person who, having been sentenced under Part II of this Actto imprisonment or detention, is unlawfully at large during the currency of the sentence, and may take himto any place in which he may be required in accordance with law to be detained.
(2)The provisions of subsections (5) to (7) of section 119 of this Act shall have effect for the purposesof subsection (1) above as they have effect for the purposes of the said section 119.
Any person who in the United Kingdom or any colony falsely represents himself to any military, naval,air-force or civil authority to be a deserter from the regular forces shall be liable on summary convictionto a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to bothsuch a fine and such imprisonment.
(1)Any person who, whether within or without Her Majesty’s dominions,—
(a)procures or persuades any officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier of the regularforces to desert or to absent himself without leave; or
(b)knowing that any such officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier is about to desertor absent himself without leave, assists him in so doing; or
[F18(c)knowing any person to be a deserter or absentee without leave from the regular forces, procures orpersuades or assists him to remain such a deserter or absentee, or assists in his rescue from custody],
shall be guilty of an offence against this section.
(2)Any person guilty of an offence against this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a finenot exceeding fifty pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both such a fineand such imprisonment, or on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds or toimprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.
Textual Amendments
F18S. 192(1)(c) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 18(1)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C11s. 192 modified (23.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 18
Any person who, in the United Kingdom or any colony, wilfully obstructs or otherwise interferes withany officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier of the regular forces acting in theexecution of his duty shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F19level 3 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.
Textual Amendments
F19Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss.38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) S.I.1984/703 (N.I.3), arts. 5, 6
Any person who, whether within or without Her Majesty’s dominions,—
(a)produces in an officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier of the regular forces anysickness or disability; or
(b)supplies to or for him any drug or preparation calculated or likely to render him, or lead to the beliefthat he is, permanently or temporarily unfit for service,
with a view to enabling him to avoid military service, whether permanently or temporarily, shall beliable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term notexceeding three months or to both such a fine and such imprisonment, or on conviction on indictment to afine not exceeding five hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both sucha fine and such imprisonment.
(1)Any person who, whether within or without Her Majesty’s dominions, acquires any military stores orsolicits or procures any person to dispose of any military stores, or acts for any person in the disposingof any military stores, shall be guilty of an offence against this section unless he proves either—
(a)that he did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to know, that the chattels in question weremilitary stores, or
(b)that those chattels had (by the transaction with which he is charged or some earlier transaction) beendisposed of by order or with the consent of [F20the Defence Council] or of some person or authority who had, or whom he had reasonable cause to believe to have, power togive the order or consent, or
(c)that those chattels had become the property of an officer who had retired or ceased to be an officer,or of a warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier who had been discharged, or of the personalrepresentatives of a person who had died.
(2)Any person guilty of an offence against this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a finenot exceeding one hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both sucha fine and such imprisonment, or on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding five hundred poundsor imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.
[F21(3)A constable may seize any property which he has reasonable grounds for suspecting of having been thesubject of an offence against this section.]
(4)Any person having authority to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person charged with crime may, ifsatisfied by evidence on oath that a person within his jurisdiction has, or is reasonably suspected ofhaving, in his possession any property which has been the subject of an offence against this section, granta warrant to search for such property as in the case of stolen goods; and any property suspected of havingbeen the subject of such an offence which is found on such a search shall be seized by the officer chargedwith the execution of the warrant, and that officer shall bring the person in whose possession or keepingthe property is found before a court of summary jurisdiction.
(5)In this section—
the expression “acquire” means buy, take in exchange, take in pawn or otherwise receive (whether apartfrom this section the receiving is lawful or not);
the expression “dispose” means sell, give in exchange, pledge or otherwise hand over (whether apart fromthis section the handing over is lawful or not);
the expression “military stores” means any chattel of any description belonging to Her Majesty, which hasbeen issued for use for military purposes or is held in store for the purpose of being so issued whenrequired, and includes any chattel which had belonged, and had been issued or held, as aforesaid at somepast time.
(6)For the purposes of subsection (4) of this section property shall be deemed to be in the possession ofa person if he has it under his control, and whether he has it for his own use or benefit or for the useor benefit of another.
Textual Amendments
F20Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I
F21S. 195(3) substituted by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95),s. 119(1),Sch. 6 Pt. I para. 8 (E.W.) and by S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I.12), art. 90(1), Sch. 6 para. 4
(1)Any person who—
(a)as a pledge or a security for a debt, or
(b)with a view to obtaining payment from the person entitled thereto of a debt due either to himself orto any other person,
receives, detains or has in his possession any official document issued in connection with the paymentto any person of any pay, pension, allowance, gratuity or other payment payable in respect of his or anyother person’s military service shall be guilty of an offence against this section.
(2)Any person who has in his possession without lawful authority or excuse (the proof whereof shall lieon him) any such document as aforesaid, or any official document issued in connection with the mobilisationor demobilisation of any of Her Majesty’s military forces or any member thereof, shall be guilty of anoffence against this section.
(3)Any person guilty of an offence against this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a finenot exceeding [F22level 3 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.
(4)For the purposes of this section a document shall be deemed to be in the possession of a person if hehas it under his control and whether he has it for his own use or benefit or for the use or benefit ofanother.
(5)This section shall have effect in the United Kingdom and in any colony.
Textual Amendments
F22Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss.38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) S.I.1984/703 (N.I.3), arts. 5, 6
(1)Any person who, in the United Kingdom or in any colony,—
(a)without authority uses or wears any military decoration, or any badge, wound stripe or emblem suppliedor authorised by [F23the Defence Council], or
(b)uses or wears any decoration, badge, wound stripe, or emblem so nearly resembling any militarydecoration, or any such badge, stripe or emblem as aforesaid, as to be calculated to deceive, or
(c)falsely represents himself to be a person who is or has been entitled to use or wear any suchdecoration, badge, stripe or emblem as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection,
shall be guilty of an offence against this section:
Provided that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the use or wearing of ordinary regimentalbadges or of brooches or ornaments representing them.
(2)Any person who purchases or takes in pawn any naval, military or air-force decoration awarded to anymember of Her Majesty’s military forces, or solicits or procures any person to sell or pledge any suchdecoration, or acts for any person in the sale or pledging thereof, shall be guilty of an offence againstthis section unless he proves that at the time of the alleged offence the person to whom the decoration wasawarded was dead or had ceased to be a member of those forces.
(3)Any person guilty of an offence against this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a finenot exceeding [F24level 3 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.
Textual Amendments
F23Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I
F24Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss.38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) S.I.1984/703 (N.I.3), arts. 5, 6
(1)The following provisions F25 shall have effect with respect to evidence in proceedings under this Act,whether before a court-martial, a civil court or otherwise.
(2)A document purporting to be a copy of the attestation paper signed by any person and to be certifiedto be a true copy by a person stated in the certificate to have the custody of the attestation paper shallbe evidence of the enlistment of the person attested.
(3)The attestation paper purporting to be signed by a person on his enlistment shall be evidence of hishaving given the answers to questions which he is therein recorded as having given.
(4)A letter, return or other document stating that any person—
(a)was or was not serving at any specified time or during any specified period in any part of Her Majesty’sforces or was discharged from any part of those forces at or before any specified time, or
(b)held or did not hold at any specified time any specified rank or appointment in any of those forces,or had at or before any specified time been attached, posted or transferred to any part of those forces,or at any specified time or during any specified period was or was not serving or held or did not hold anyrank or appointment in any particular country or place, or
(c)was or was not at any specified time authorised to use or wear any decoration, badge, wound stripe oremblem,
shall, if purporting to be issued by or on behalf of [F26the Defence Council], F27, or by a person authorised by F27 them, be evidence of the matters stated in the document.
(5)A record made in any service book or other document prescribed by Queen’s Regulations for the purposesof this subsection, being a record made in pursuance of any Act or of Queen’s Regulations, or otherwise inpursuance of military duty, and purporting to be signed by the commanding officer or by any person whoseduty it was to make the record, shall be evidence of the facts stated therein; and a copy of a record(including the signature thereto) in [F28any such book or other document as aforesaid], purporting to be certified to be a true copy by a person stated in the certificate to have thecustody of the book [F29or other document], shall be evidence of the record.
(6)A document purporting to be issued by order of [F26the Defence Council] and to contain instructions or regulations given or made by [F26the Defence Council] shall be evidence of the giving of the instructions or making of the regulations and of theircontents.
(7)A certificate purporting to be issued by or on behalf of [F26the Defence Council], or by a person authorised by F27 them, and stating—
(a)that a decoration of a description specified in or annexed to the certificate is a military, naval orair-force decoration, or
(b)that a badge, wound stripe or emblem of a description specified in or annexed to the certificate is onesupplied or authorised by [F26the Defence Council],
shall be evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.
(8)A certificate purporting to be signed by a person’s commanding officer or any officer authorised by himto give the certificate, and stating the contents of, or of any part of, standing orders or other routineorders of a continuing nature made for—
(a)any formation or unit or [F30body of Her Majesty’s forces], or
(b)any command or other area, garrison or place, or
(c)any ship, train or aircraft,
shall in proceedings against the said person be evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.
(9)Any document which would be evidence in any proceedings under the M2Air Force Act1955, by virtue of section one hundred and ninety-eight of that Act [F31, or in any proceedings under the M3Naval Discipline Act 1957, by virtue of section 64C of that Act,]shall in like manner, subject to thelike conditions, and for the like purpose be evidence in the like proceedings under this Act.
Textual Amendments
F25Words repealed by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119(2), Sch.7 Pt. III
F26Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I
F27Words repealed by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I
F28Words substituted by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), Sch. 2
F29Words inserted by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), Sch. 2
F30Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 1 para. 1(8)
F31Words in s. 198(9) inserted (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 5, Sch. 1 Pt. IV para. 70; S.I. 1997/304, arts. 2, 3 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C12S. 198(8)(c) extended by S.I. 1972/971, art. 4, Sch. 1
Marginal Citations
Textual Amendments
Where the age of any person at any time is material for the purposes of any provision of this Actregulating the powers of a court-martial, his age at the material time shall be deemed to be or to have beenthat which appears to the court, after considering any available evidence, to be or to have been his ageat that time.]
Textual Amendments
F33S. 198C inserted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52) Sch. 9 para. 4; renumbered as s. 198C by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 9(2)
(1)Where a person subject to military law has been tried before a civil court (whether at the time of thetrial he was subject to military law or not), a certificate signed by the [F34proper officer] of the court and statingall or any of the following matters,—
(a)that the said person has been tried before the court for an offence specified in the certificate,
(b)the result of the trial,
(c)what judgment or order was given or made by the court,
(d)that other offences specified in the certificate were taken into consideration at the trial,
shall for the purposes of this Act be evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.
(2)The [F34proper officer] of the court shall, if required by the commanding officer of the person in question or anyother officer, furnish a certificate under this section and shall be paid such fee as may be prescribed byregulations made by a Secretary of State.
(3)A document purporting to be a certificate under this section and to be signed by the [F34proper officer] of the courtshall, unless the contrary is shown, be deemed to be such a certificate.
[F35(4)In this section “proper officer” means—
(a)in relation to a court of summary jurisdiction in England and Wales, the [F36designated officer] for the court; and
(b)in relation to any other court, the clerk of the court, his deputy or any other person having the custody of the records of the court.]
Textual Amendments
F34Words in s. 199(1)(2)(3) substituted (1.4.2001) by 1999 c. 22, s. 90, Sch. 13 para. 18(2) (with s. 107, Sch. 14 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2001/916, art. 2(a)(ii)
F35S. 199(4) substituted (1.4.2001) by 1999 c. 22, s. 90, Sch. 13 para. 18(3) (with s. 107, Sch. 14 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2001/916, art. 2(a)(ii)
F36Words in s. 199(4)(a) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 110(1), Sch. 8 para. 95(b); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)
Textual Amendments
F37S. 200A repealed (11.5.2001) by 2001 c. 19, s. 38, Sch. 7 Pt. 5
(1)A warrant officer or non-commissioned officer of the regular forces [F38(other than a lance-corporal or lance-bombardier)] shall not be reduced in rank except by sentence of a court-martial (whether under this Act, [F39the M4Naval Discipline Act 1957] or the M5Air Force Act 1955) or by order of [F40the Defence Council] or of an officer, not belowthe rank of [F41colonel, or captain in the Royal Navy or of group captain], authorised by [F40the Defence Council] to act for the purposes of this section.
(2)An authorisation under the last foregoing subsection may be given generally or subject to suchlimitations as may be specified by [F40the Defence Council].
(3)For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section reduction in rank does not include reversion fromacting rank.
Textual Amendments
F38Words inserted by Army and Air Force Act 1961 (c. 52), s. 37(1)(2)(c)
F39Words substituted by virtue of Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), s. 137(2)
F40Words substituted by S.I. 1964/488, Sch. 1 Pt. I
F41Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 68
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C13S. 201 excluded by Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), ss. 112(2), 113(2), Sch. 1 para.3, Sch. 2 para. 6
Marginal Citations
(1)Where a person is in military custody when charged with, or with a view to his being charged with, anoffence against Part II of this Act, it shall be the duty of the governor, superintendent or other personin charge of a prison (not being a military prison), or of the person having charge of any police stationor other place in which prisoners may be lawfully detained, upon delivery to him of a written orderpurporting to be signed by the commanding officer of the person in custody to receive him into his custodyfor a period not exceeding seven days.
(2)This section shall have effect in the United Kingdom and in any colony.
(1)Every assignment of or charge on, and every agreement to assign or charge, any pay, military award,grant, pension or allowance payable to any person in respect of his or any other person’s service in HerMajesty’s military forces shall be void.
(2)Save as expressly provided by this Act, no order shall be made by any court the effect of which wouldbe to restrain any person from receiving anything which by virtue of this section he is precluded fromassigning and to direct payment thereof to another person.
(3)Nothing in this section shall prejudice any enactment providing for the payment of any sum to abankrupt’s trustee in bankruptcy for distribution among creditors.
(4)This section shall have effect in the United Kingdom and in any colony.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C14S. 203(1)(2) excluded (1.8.1996 subject to arts. 4, 5 of the commencing S.I.) by 1995 c. 26, s. 166(5)(a) (with s. 167(4)); S.I. 1996/1675, arts. 3(b), 4, 5
S. 203(1)(2) excluded (1.8.1996 subject to arts. 4, 5 of the commencing S.R.) by 1995/3213(N.I. 22), art. 162(5)(a); S.R. 1996/284, arts. 3(1)(b), 4, 5
S. 203(1)(2) excluded (11.11.1999 for certain purposes otherwise 1.12.2000) by 1999 c. 30, s. 44(1)(a); S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2)(d), Sch. Pt. IV
(1)An officer of the regular forces [F42who is of or above the rank of major or is of the rank of captain and is a member ofthe legal [F43services branch of any]corps of those forces] (hereinafter referred to as an “authorised officer") may, at a place outside the United Kingdom,take affidavits and declarations from any of the following persons, that is to say, persons subject tomilitary law and persons not so subject who are of any description specified in the Fifth Schedule to thisAct.
(2)A document purporting to have subscribed thereto the signature of an authorised officer in testimonyof an affidavit or declaration being taken before him in pursuance of this section and containing in thejurat or attestation a statement of the date on which and the place at which the affidavit or declarationwas taken and of the full name and rank of that officer shall be admitted in evidence without proof of thesignature being the signature of that officer or of the facts so stated.
[F44(3)The power conferred by subsection (1) above may also be exercised by any officer empowered to takeaffidavits and declarations by section 204(1) of the M6Air Force Act 1955 or section 10(1)of the M7Emergency Laws (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953.]
Textual Amendments
F42Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55), s. 19(3)
F43Words in s. 204(1) inserted (1.10.1996 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 1996 c. 46, s. 35(1), Sch. 6 para. 2; S.I. 1996/2474, art. 2
Marginal Citations
With the exception of [F46 subsection (3A)] of section 132 of this Act, no enactment requiring thefiat or consent of the Attorney General or the Director of Public Prosecutions in connection with anyproceedings shall have effect in relation to proceedings under this Act.]
Textual Amendments
F45S. 204A inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 45(1)
F46Words in s. 204A substituted (1.1.1992) by Armed Forces Act 1991 (c. 62, SIF 7:1), s. 26(1), Sch. 2 para.6; S.I. 1991/2719, art. 2
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