Section 43: Attempting criminal conduct

123.     Under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981, an attempt is a criminal offence under the law of England and Wales only if it is an attempt to do an act which, if done, would be an indictable offence under that law (other than certain excluded offences). As it stands, this would mean that a person subject to service law commits no offence under section 42 unless his intention is to do an act which, if done, would in fact be an indictable offence under English law. This requirement would not normally be satisfied if the intended act would have been done outside England and Wales. This section modifies the 1981 Act so that it is sufficient for an offence under section 42 if the intended act would be an indictable offence (other than the excluded offences) if it were done in England or Wales. It is immaterial that it would in fact have been done outside England and Wales.

Section 44: Trial of section 42 offence of attempt

124.     This section provides for the manner in which it is to be determined, at the trial of a charge of attempt contrary to section 42, whether the defendant's act was an attempt as distinct from mere preparation for the commission of an offence. If there is sufficient evidence to justify a finding that the act was an attempt, it is a question of fact—and therefore, in a trial by the Court Martial, for the members of the court other than the judge advocate—whether the act was an attempt. The section is in similar terms to section 4(3) of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981. Section 39(8) makes corresponding provision for the trial of a charge of attempt under that section.

Section 45: Conspiring to commit criminal conduct

125.     This section modifies the Criminal Law Act 1977 (which creates the criminal offence of conspiracy to commit an offence) so that an agreement to a course of conduct being pursued outside England and Wales is an offence under section 42 not only if that course of conduct would in fact involve the commission of an offence under English law, but also if the same conduct in England or Wales would involve the commission of such an offence.

Section 46: Inciting criminal conduct

126.     This section similarly modifies the common law offence of incitement so that inciting another to do an act outside England and Wales is an offence under section 42 not only if that act would in fact be an offence under English law, but also if the same act in England or Wales would be such an offence.

Section 47: Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring criminal conduct

127.     This section similarly modifies the law relating to persons who aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of an offence under English law. The effect is that, for the purposes of section 42, a person is to be regarded as aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of an offence under English law if he aids, abets, counsels or procures the doing of an act outside England and Wales which would be such an offence if done in England or Wales.

Section 48: Provision supplementary to sections 43 to 47

128.     Sections 43, 45, 46 and 47 all enable acts (or intended acts) outside England and Wales to be treated as if done (or intended to be done) in England or Wales. But those sections apply only for the purpose of determining whether an offence under section 42 has been committed. This section lays down a similar rule for certain related purposes, such as determining the punishments available for an offence under section 42 committed by virtue of section 43, 45, 46 or 47.

Section 49: Air Navigation Order offences

129.     The Air Navigation Order, made under the Civil Aviation Act 1982, creates offences of misconduct on or in relation to civil aircraft. These offences do not apply to military aircraft.

130.     This section enables the Secretary of State to designate particular offences created by the Air Navigation Order. In the case of any offence so designated, the rule that the offence can only be committed in relation to a civil aircraft is to be disregarded for the purposes of section 42. Any act done in relation to a military aircraft will thus be an offence under section 42 if, were the aircraft a civil aircraft, that act would be a designated offence. This is subject to the proviso that, as for any other offence under section 42, the offender must be either subject to service law or a civilian subject to service discipline. But a person in one of Her Majesty's aircraft in flight, if he is not subject to service law, will necessarily be a civilian subject to service discipline under paragraph 1 of Schedule 15.

PART 2 - JURISDICTION AND TIME LIMITS

Chapter 1 - Jurisdiction

131.     This Chapter describes the charges that the Court Martial, the SCC and a CO can hear.

Court Martial

Section 50: Jurisdiction of the Court Martial

132.     This section provides that the Court Martial can try any service offence, and defines a "service offence".

Service Civilian Court

Section 51: Jurisdiction of the Service Civilian Court

133.     Section 277 establishes the SCC. Section 51 sets out the offences as respects which the court has jurisdiction. The court replaces the Standing Civilian Courts that were created by the Armed Forces Act 1976. Essentially the SCC has the same jurisdiction as that of its predecessors, which is in turn similar to the jurisdiction exercised by a magistrates' court in England and Wales.

134.     The court may try any service offence (as defined in section 50) committed outside the British Islands by a civilian who was subject to service discipline at the time of the offence, unless a listed exception applies. The most significant exception in relation to an adult is any offence which under the law of England and Wales can be tried only on indictment, that is, only by the Crown Court. However, in relation to juveniles the SCC has the power (akin to that of a youth court in England and Wales) to try offences that in relation to an adult would be indictable only, apart from the listed homicide and firearms offences.

Commanding officers

Section 52: Charges capable of being heard summarily

135.     This section defines what is meant by references in the Act to a charge which is capable of being heard summarily. A charge falls within this category if all the conditions in subsections (2) to (4) are satisfied.

136.     Condition A is that the offence charged must be an offence that may be dealt with at summary hearing (i.e. one of those listed in section 53).

137.     Condition B prevents a charge from being heard summarily if the accused is an officer above the rank of commander, lieutenant-colonel or wing commander, or a civilian.

138.     Condition C relates to the accused's membership of a force (or, in some cases, his liability to recall). In most cases the accused must be subject to service law, or a volunteer reservist or an ex-regular reservist subject to an additional duties commitment, throughout the period between the commission of the offence and the completion of the summary hearing. If the charge is one of absence without leave on the part of a reservist, however, it is sufficient that the accused has been a reservist (whether volunteer or ex-regular) throughout that period. If the charge is one of absence without leave on the part of an ex-regular who is not a reservist but is liable to recall, the accused must either be liable to recall or a member of the regular forces (i.e. actually recalled) throughout that period.

Section 53: Offences that may be dealt with at a summary hearing

139.     This section details those offences that may be heard summarily. It makes it clear that where a criminal conduct offence may be heard summarily an offence of attempting to commit the substantive offence may also be dealt with at a summary hearing.

140.     With regard to criminal conduct offences, this section makes it clear that only those offences that are listed in Schedule 1 may be dealt with at a summary hearing. The Secretary of State is given the power to amend Schedule 1 by order made by statutory instrument (subject to the "affirmative resolution" procedure which requires the order to be laid in draft before both Houses of Parliament and be approved by resolution of each House).

Section 54: Charges which may be heard summarily only with permission or by senior officer

141.     This section prevents a CO who is below the rank of rear admiral, major-general or air vice-marshal from hearing a charge of a criminal conduct offence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 1 (or an attempt to commit such an offence) without the permission of higher authority.

Chapter 2 - Time Limits for Commencing Proceedings

142.     This Chapter prescribes time limits for the bringing of charges under the Act. The time limits in sections 55 to 60 are cumulative—that is, a charge cannot be brought outside the period specified by any section that applies, even if another section also applies and the period specified by that other section has not expired. In the case of a charge under the Reserve Forces Act 1996, however, the time limit is determined by section 62 alone.

Time limits for offences other than Reserve Forces Act offences

Section 55: Time limit for charging former member of a regular or reserve force

143.     Where a person is alleged to have committed a service offence while a member of a regular or reserve force, this section provides that he cannot be charged with the offence more than six months after he ceased to be a member. This is subject to section 61(2), which allows the charge to be brought if the Attorney General consents.

Section 56: Time limit for charging certain members or former members of ex-regular reserve forces

144.     Where a person is alleged to have committed a service offence while he was an ex-regular reservist subject to an additional duties commitment under section 25 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996, this section provides that he cannot be charged with the offence more than six months after the end of that commitment. This is subject to section 61(2), which allows the charge to be brought if the Attorney General consents.

Section 57: Time limit for charging person formerly subject to service law

145.     Where a person is alleged to have committed a service offence while he was subject to service law, and was not a volunteer reservist or an ex-regular reservist subject to an additional duties commitment, this section provides that he cannot be charged with the offence more than six months after he ceased to be subject to service law. This is subject to section 61(2), which allows the charge to be brought if the Attorney General consents.

Section 58: Time limit for charging civilian formerly subject to service discipline

146.     Where a person is alleged to have committed a service offence while he was a civilian subject to service discipline, this section provides that he cannot be charged with the offence more than six months after he ceased to be a civilian subject to service discipline. This is subject to section 61(2), which allows the charge to be brought if the Attorney General consents.

147.     There are two exceptions. First, if the person became subject to service law at the same time as ceasing to be a civilian subject to service discipline, the six month period does not begin to run until he ceases to be subject to service law (when section 57 applies instead). Secondly, under Schedule 15 certain civilians are subject to service discipline only while in certain designated areas or while in any area outside the British Islands. If he ceases to be a civilian subject to service discipline only because he left such an area but was still residing or staying in that area, the six month period does not begin to run.

Section 59: Time limit for charging offence under section 107

148.     This section sets a time limit for bringing a charge of an offence under section 107 (breach of requirement imposed on release from custody), or adding such a charge in proceedings for another offence. The time limit is six months from the date of the offence or two months from the date of the suspect's apprehension, whichever is the later.

Section 60: Time limit for charging offence under section 266

149.     This section sets a time limit for bringing a charge of an offence under section 266 (failure to comply with a financial statement order). The time limit is two years from the date of the offence or six months from the date it becomes known to the Service Prosecuting Authority, whichever is the earlier.

Section 61: Sections 55 to 60: exceptions and interpretation

150.     This section makes general provision in relation to sections 55 to 60. Its effect is mostly explained at paragraph 142 above. Subsection (1) also makes it clear that the time limits imposed by those sections (except section 59) apply only to the commencement of proceedings for the offence, and not to the addition of a charge in proceedings that have already been commenced.

Time limit for Reserve Forces Act offences

Section 62: Time limit for charging Reserve Forces Act offences

151.     This section sets out the time limit for charging a person under the Act with an offence under sections 95 to 97 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. The time limit is the point at which all the periods specified in subsection (1) have expired. The time limits in sections 55 to 60 do not apply.

Chapter 3 - Double Jeopardy

152.     This Chapter provides for the barring of service proceedings by the outcome of previous service or civilian proceedings, and the barring of civilian proceedings by the outcome of previous service proceedings.

Section 63: Service proceedings barring subsequent service proceedings

153.     This section bars the trial or hearing of a charge of a service offence if the accused has previously been convicted or acquitted of the offence charged, or has had it taken into consideration when being sentenced for another offence. The section also applies where the two offences are not identical but are related in one of the ways specified in subsection (3).

Section 64: Service proceedings barring subsequent civilian proceedings

154.     This section bars the trial of a charge by a civilian court in the UK or the Isle of Man if the accused has previously been convicted or acquitted of an offence under section 42 (criminal conduct) or has had such an offence taken into consideration when being sentenced, and, under the double jeopardy rules of the jurisdiction in which the court sits (i.e. England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, as the case may be), the trial would be barred if he had been convicted or acquitted by an English court of the corresponding civilian offence.

Section 65: Sections 63 and 64: supplementary

155.     This section provides for the application of sections 63 and 64 where the DSP makes a direction under section 127 barring future proceedings.

Section 66: Civilian proceedings barring subsequent service proceedings

156.     This section bars the trial or hearing of a charge of an offence under section 42 if, under the double jeopardy rules of England and Wales, a civilian court could not try a charge of the corresponding civilian offence (because the accused has previously been convicted or acquitted of that offence or a related offence). The section similarly bars the trial or hearing of a charge of any other service offence which requires proof of an offence under English law if the accused could not be tried for the civilian offence because he has previously been acquitted of it.

PART 3 - POWERS OF ARREST, SEARCH AND ENTRY

Chapter 1 - Arrest etc

157.     This chapter defines the power of arrest in relation to service offences and sets out who can be arrested, and who can arrest in relation to service offences. It also provides for a power to search upon arrest and makes further provision permitting the person exercising this power to seize and retain any items found during the search. For the most part, these powers are to be exercised by the service police.

Powers of arrest

Section 67: Power of arrest for service offence

158.     This section sets out the powers of arrest when it is reasonably suspected that a service offence has been, or is being, committed. It describes who may be arrested and who can exercise the power of arrest. The person making the arrest, or who orders someone else to arrest on his behalf, must reasonably suspect the person to be arrested of being engaged in committing or having committed a service offence. A service policeman may arrest any persons subject to service law, irrespective of rank or rate, and civilians subject to service discipline.

159.     Officers, warrant officers or NCOs who are not service policemen may arrest persons of inferior rank or rate who are subject to service law, and officers may arrest civilians subject to service discipline. Officers may also arrest other officers of any rank if they are engaged in a mutiny.

160.     Persons who are not service policemen but who are lawfully exercising authority on behalf of a provost officer may arrest persons subject to service law and civilians subject to service discipline. In the maritime environment persons on the staff of the officer of the day (duty officer) may arrest members of a ship's company or embarked force.

Section 68: Section 67: supplementary

161.     This section makes supplementary provisions relating to the powers of arrest. Subsection (2) ensures that section 67(3) will apply to former members of HM Forces. Such a person will be treated for the purposes of section 67(3) as being of the rank or rate which they held when last a member of the forces. Subsection (3) ensures that section 67(4) will apply to a person who is no longer a civilian subject to service discipline but who is suspected of having committed an offence while a civilian subject to service discipline. Subsection (4) ensures that it is a service policeman who must arrest a person in respect of an offence where the consent of the Attorney General is necessary under section 61 to charge the person with that offence.

Section 69: Power of arrest in anticipation of commission of service offence

162.     This section provides a service policeman with the power to arrest a person he reasonably suspects of being about to commit a service offence.

Search on arrest

Section 70: Search by service policeman upon arrest

163.     This section permits a service policeman to search an arrested person who he has reasonable grounds to believe may present a danger to himself or others or who may be concealing anything which might help him escape or (in the case of an arrest under section 67 or 69) which might be evidence relating to a service offence.

Section 71: Search by other persons upon arrest

164.     This section allows a person (other than a service policeman) who is exercising a power of arrest to search an arrested person who he has reasonable grounds to believe may present a danger to himself or others.

165.     It further allows a person other than a service policeman to search an arrested person for anything that the arrested person might use to help him escape or which might be evidence relating to an offence on the direction of the arrested person's CO. The CO can only direct such a search if the assistance of a service policeman or civilian policeman cannot be obtained, and the CO has reasonable grounds to believe that if the search is delayed the arrested person would escape or conceal or damage evidence.

Section 72: Sections 70 and 71: supplementary

166.     This section provides that a person exercising a power to search under section 70(2) or 71(4) may search an arrested person only to the extent reasonably required to discover anything which might help him escape from custody or which might be evidence relating to a service offence. The search powers may not be used to require an arrested person to remove any clothing in public other than outer clothing, but the search of the person's mouth is allowed.

Section 73: Seizure and retention after search upon arrest

167.     This section sets out when persons exercising a power of search may seize and retain things they find. Persons who search an arrested person on the grounds that he presents a danger to himself or others and retain things they reasonably believe the person searched may use to injure him or others.

168.     Persons who exercise a power to search on the grounds that the arrested person may be concealing anything which might help him to escape or which might be evidence relating to an offence may seize and retain things they have reasonable grounds to believe might be used by the arrested person to escape from custody, or which are evidence of an offence or which have been obtained in consequence of the commission of an offence, unless those items are subject to legal privilege.

Section 74: Power to make provision conferring power to search premises at which person arrested

169.     This section enables the Secretary of State to make by statutory instrument subject to annulment an order providing for the power to enter and search premises equivalent to the provision of section 32 of PACE.

Chapter 2 - Stop and Search

170.     This chapter sets out the powers available to stop and search persons and vehicles (which includes ships and aircraft for the purposes of this chapter). The powers available to service policemen are closely based on those available to constables under PACE.

Section 75: Power of service policeman to stop and search persons, vehicles etc

171.     This section gives a service policeman the power to stop certain persons and vehicles in a place permitted by section 78 to search for specified things such as stolen goods or controlled drugs. The policeman may detain a person for this purpose and seize any of the specified things if he finds them. A list of definitions of words used is presented at section 77.

Section 76: Stop and search by persons other than service policemen

172.     This section provides for others to have similar powers where a service policeman is not available and the authorising officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that a criminal conduct offence would be committed, or that a person who has committed such an offence would avoid apprehension, if the powers authorised could not be exercised before it would be possible to have the assistance of a service or UK civilian policeman.

173.     The range of persons who may be searched is narrower than that available to service policemen. It is limited (at subsection (2)) to persons subject to service law and civilians subject to service discipline whose CO (in either case) is the authorising officer, plus persons who fall outside that category but are reasonably believed to fall within it.

174.     Subsections (3) to (5) make clear that orders may only be for the search of a particular person or vehicle, and may only be given and conducted when the ordering or authorising officer and the person searching have reasonable grounds to suspect that the circumstances at section 75(2) exist. The authorisation may permit the detention of a person or vehicle for the purposes of the search, and seizure by the searcher of the same articles which a service policeman may seize under subsection (1)(b) and (c).

Section 78: Places in which powers under sections 75 and 76 may be exercised

175.     This section describes the places where powers under sections 75 and 76 may be exercised. These include places to which the public has access, and premises used for official purposes by HM Forces excluding service living accommodation.

Section 79: Sections 75 and 76: limitation on searching persons or vehicles in certain gardens etc

176.     This section sets out limitations in respect of the search of persons in certain gardens or on certain other land. These limitations apply equally to service policemen and others authorised to stop and search by virtue of sections 75 or 76. In relation to dwellings or service living accommodation, subsections (1) and (2) set out that a person may only be searched there if the authorising officer or service policeman has reasonable grounds to suspect he neither dwells there nor is there with permission from a person who does. Subsections (3) and (4) apply the same approach to the search of vehicles.

Section 80: Searches under sections 75 and 76: supplementary

177.     This section sets out the safeguards with regard to the conduct of the search. It provides the person may only be detained for the purpose of the search for such time as is reasonably required to permit the search to be carried out. It also places certain limitations on the search of outer garments.

Section 81: Power to make further provision about searches under sections 75 and 76

178.     This section permits the Secretary of State to make further provision analogous to that in certain sections of PACE dealing with search.

Section 82: Application of Chapter to ships and aircraft

179.     This section provides that the provisions above which apply to vehicles will also apply to ships and aircraft in the same way.

Chapter 3 - Powers of Entry, Search and Seizure

180.     This chapter gives powers to judge advocates (and, in limited circumstances, to COs) to authorise the entry, normally by service police, into certain premises, the search of such premises and the seizure and retention of anything in relation to which the search was authorised. The provisions are based on powers in PACE and largely re-enact those in the Armed Forces Act 2001.