Office of Public Sector Information
FIRST GROUP OF PARTS continuedPART 3
(1) A person who is reasonably suspected of being engaged in committing, or of having committed, a service offence may be arrested in accordance with subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5) by a person subject to service law.
(2) An officer may be arrested under subsection (1)—
(a) by an officer of superior rank or, if engaged in a mutiny, quarrel or disorder, by an officer of any rank;
(b) by a service policeman; or
(c) on the order of another officer, by a person who is lawfully exercising authority on behalf of a provost officer.
(3) A person of or below the rank or rate of warrant officer may be arrested under subsection (1)—
(a) by an officer;
(b) by a warrant officer or non-commissioned officer of superior rank or rate;
(c) by a service policeman;
(d) by a person who is lawfully exercising authority on behalf of a provost officer; or
(e) if a member of a ship’s company or an embarked force, by a person exercising authority as a member of the staff of the officer of the day.
(4) A civilian subject to service discipline may be arrested under subsection (1)—
(a) by an officer;
(b) by a service policeman; or
(c) by a person who is lawfully exercising authority on behalf of a provost officer.
(5) Where none of subsections (2) to (4) applies in relation to the person to be arrested, that person may be arrested under subsection (1) by a service policeman.
(6) The power of arrest conferred on any person by this section may be exercised—
(a) personally;
(b) by giving orders for the arrest of the person who is to be arrested; or
(c) where that person is subject to service law, by ordering him into arrest.
(1) In section 67(2)(a) the reference to being engaged in a mutiny is a reference to committing an offence under section 6.
(2) For the purposes of section 67(3), a person who—
(a) is suspected of having committed a service offence while a member of Her Majesty’s forces, and
(b) is not a member of Her Majesty’s forces or a civilian subject to service discipline,
is to be treated in relation to the offence as being of the rank or rate which he held when he was last a member of Her Majesty’s forces.
(3) For the purposes of section 67(4), a person who—
(a) is suspected of having committed a service offence while a civilian subject to service discipline, and
(b) is not a member of Her Majesty’s forces or a civilian subject to service discipline,
is to be treated in relation to the offence as if he were a civilian subject to service discipline.
(4) Where a person may be charged (within the meaning of section 61(1)) with an offence only with the consent of the Attorney General (see section 61(2)), section 67(1) has effect in relation to the offence as if for the words from “in accordance with” to the end there were substituted “by a service policeman” (and as if section 67(2) to (5) were omitted).
(1) A service policeman may arrest a person whom he reasonably suspects of being about to commit a service offence.
(2) Subsection (6) of section 67 applies in relation to the power of arrest conferred by this section as it applies in relation to the power of arrest conferred by that section.
(3) Where a person is arrested under this section—
(a) the arrest must be reported as soon as practicable to his commanding officer; and
(b) he may be kept in service custody until such time as a service policeman is satisfied that the risk of his committing the service offence concerned has passed.
(1) A service policeman may search an arrested person if he has reasonable grounds for believing that the arrested person may present a danger to himself or others.
(2) A service policeman may search an arrested person for anything that is subject to search if he has reasonable grounds for believing that the arrested person may have any such thing concealed on him.
(3) For the purposes of this section a thing is “subject to search” if—
(a) the arrested person might use it to assist him to escape from service custody; or
(b) in the case of an arrest under section 67 or 69, it might be evidence relating to a service offence.
(4) References in this section to an arrested person are to a person arrested under section 67, 69, 110, 111 or 303.
(1) A person (other than a service policeman) who is exercising a power of arrest may search the arrested person if he has reasonable grounds for believing that the arrested person may present a danger to himself or others.
(2) Subsection (4) (power to search arrested person for things subject to search) applies where—
(a) a person (“the arrested person”) is to be or has been arrested by a person other than a service policeman; and
(b) the commanding officer of the arrested person has reasonable grounds for believing that it is likely that that person would—
(i) escape from service custody, or
(ii) conceal, damage, alter or destroy evidence,
if a search for things subject to search could not be carried out before the earliest time by which it would be practicable to obtain the assistance mentioned in subsection (3).
(3) That assistance is—
(a) the assistance of a service policeman; or
(b) in a case where corresponding powers conferred by section 32(2)(a) of PACE or any other enactment are exercisable by a member of a UK police force, the assistance of a member of such a force who is capable of exercising those corresponding powers.
(4) Where this subsection applies, the commanding officer of the arrested person may order or authorise the person exercising the power of arrest to search the arrested person, on or after exercising the power, for anything that is subject to search.
(5) A commanding officer may give an order under subsection (4) only if he has reasonable grounds for believing that the arrested person may have concealed on him anything that is subject to search.
(6) A person authorised under subsection (4) may exercise the power of search conferred by that subsection only if he has reasonable grounds for believing that the arrested person may have concealed on him anything that is subject to search.
(7) Section 70(3) (meaning of things “subject to search”) applies for the purposes of this section.
(8) References in this section to arrest are to arrest under section 67, 110 or 111, and related expressions in this section are to be read accordingly.
(9) The Defence Council may by regulations provide for the delegation by a commanding officer of his functions under this section.
(1) A person exercising the power conferred by section 70(2), or ordered or authorised under section 71(4), may search the arrested person only to the extent that is reasonably required for the purpose of discovering anything that is subject to search (within the meaning of those sections).
(2) Nothing in section 70 or 71 authorises anyone to require an arrested person to remove any of his clothing in public other than an outer coat, jacket, headgear or gloves.
(3) The reference in subsection (2) to headgear does not include headgear worn for religious reasons.
(4) Any power of search conferred by section 70 or 71 authorises the search of the arrested person’s mouth.
(1) A person exercising the power conferred by section 70(1) or 71(1) may seize and retain anything he finds, if he has reasonable grounds for believing that the person searched might use it to cause physical injury to himself or to any other person.
(2) A person exercising the power conferred by section 70(2), or ordered or authorised under section 71(4), may seize and retain anything he finds, other than an item subject to legal privilege, if he has reasonable grounds for believing—
(a) that the person searched might use it to assist him to escape from service custody; or
(b) in the case of an arrest under section 67 or 69, that it is evidence of a service offence or has been obtained in consequence of the commission of a service offence.
(3) In subsection (2) “item subject to legal privilege” has the meaning given by section 10 of PACE.
The Secretary of State may by order make provision, in relation to premises in which a person was when or immediately before he was arrested under section 67, which is equivalent to that made by any of the provisions of section 32 of PACE which relate to the power to enter and search premises, subject to such modifications as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(1) A service policeman may, in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2) and in a place permitted by section 78, search any of the following for stolen or prohibited articles, controlled drugs or Her Majesty’s stores—
(a) any person who is, or whom the service policeman has reasonable grounds for believing to be, a person subject to service law or a civilian subject to service discipline;
(b) a service vehicle which is in the charge of any person;
(c) any vehicle which is, or which the service policeman has reasonable grounds for believing to be, in the charge of a person subject to service law or a civilian subject to service discipline;
(d) anything which is in or on a service vehicle or a vehicle within paragraph (c).
(2) The circumstances are that the service policeman has reasonable grounds for suspecting—
(a) that the search will reveal stolen or prohibited articles;
(b) that the search will reveal Her Majesty’s stores that have been unlawfully obtained;
(c) in the case of the search of a person, that the person is in possession of a controlled drug in circumstances in which he commits an offence under section 42 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales is an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (c. 38); or
(d) in the case of the search of a vehicle, that the search will reveal a controlled drug that is in a person’s possession in such circumstances.
(3) A service policeman may detain for the purposes of a search under subsection (1)—
(a) any person who is, or whom the service policeman has reasonable grounds for believing to be, a person subject to service law or a civilian subject to service discipline;
(b) any person in charge of a service vehicle;
(c) any service vehicle; and
(d) any vehicle within subsection (1)(c).
(4) A service policeman may seize any article that he discovers in the course of a search under subsection (1) and that he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be—
(a) a stolen or prohibited article;
(b) evidence of an offence under section 42 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales is an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; or
(c) any of Her Majesty’s stores that have been unlawfully obtained.
(1) An officer may order or authorise a person subject to service law (other than a service policeman)—
(a) to search, in a place permitted by section 78—
(i) a person within subsection (2),
(ii) a vehicle in the charge of such a person, or
(iii) anything which is in or on such a vehicle,
for stolen or prohibited articles, controlled drugs or Her Majesty’s stores;
(b) to detain such a person or vehicle for the purposes of such a search; and
(c) to seize any article that he discovers in the course of such a search and that he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be an article within section 75(4)(a) to (c);
but this is subject to subsections (3) to (7).
(2) A person is within this subsection if he is—
(a) a person subject to service law whose commanding officer is the officer mentioned in subsection (1);
(b) a civilian subject to service discipline whose commanding officer is that officer;
(c) a person whom—
(i) that officer (in the case of an order under subsection (1)), or
(ii) the authorised person (in the case of an authorisation under that subsection),
has reasonable grounds for believing to be a person within paragraph (a) or (b).
(3) An order under subsection (1) may be given only in relation to a particular person or vehicle.
(4) An officer may give an order under subsection (1) only in the circumstances mentioned in section 75(2) (references to the service policeman being read as references to the officer).
(5) A person authorised under subsection (1) may exercise the power of search conferred by virtue of that subsection only in the circumstances mentioned in section 75(2) (references to the service policeman being read as references to the authorised person).
(6) An officer may give an order or authorisation under subsection (1) only if he has reasonable grounds for believing that it is likely that—
(a) an offence under section 42 would be committed, or
(b) a person who has committed such an offence would avoid apprehension,
if the powers conferred by this section could not be exercised before the earliest time by which it would be practicable to obtain the assistance mentioned in subsection (7).
(7) That assistance is—
(a) the assistance of a service policeman; or
(b) in a case where corresponding powers conferred by section 1 of PACE or any other enactment are exercisable by a member of a UK police force, the assistance of a member of such a force who is capable of exercising those corresponding powers.
(1) Subsections (2) to (6) apply for the purposes of sections 75 and 76.
(2) “Controlled drug” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (c. 38).
(3) “Her Majesty’s stores” has the same meaning as in the Public Stores Act 1875 (c. 25).
(4) “Prohibited article” means—
(a) an offensive weapon, other than one in the possession of a person who is permitted to have it in his possession for the purposes of any of Her Majesty’s forces;
(b) an article made or adapted for use in the course of or in connection with an offence under section 42 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales is an offence mentioned in subsection (8); or
(c) an article intended by the person having it with him for such use by him or by some other person.
(5) “Service vehicle” means a vehicle which—
(a) belongs to any of Her Majesty’s forces; or
(b) is in use for the purposes of any of those forces.
(6) “Stolen”, in relation to an article, has the same meaning as it has by virtue of section 24 of the Theft Act 1968 (c. 60) in the provisions of that Act relating to goods which have been stolen.
(7) In subsection (4)(a) “offensive weapon” means any article—
(a) made or adapted for use for causing injury to persons; or
(b) intended by the person having it with him for such use by him or by some other person.
(8) The offences referred to in subsection (4)(b) are—
(a) an offence under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968 (theft);
(b) an offence under section 9 of that Act (burglary);
(c) an offence under section 12 of that Act (taking vehicle etc without consent);
(d) an offence under section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 (c. 48) (destroying or damaging property);
(e) an offence under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006 (fraud).
(9) The reference in subsection (4)(b) to an offence under section 42 includes an act or omission which would constitute such an offence if done or made by a person subject to service law.
The powers conferred by sections 75 and 76 may be exercised only in—
(a) any place to which (at the time of exercise of the power) the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission;
(b) any other place to which people have ready access (at the time of exercise of the power) but which is not a dwelling or service living accommodation; and
(c) any premises which (at the time of exercise of the power) are permanently or temporarily occupied or controlled for the purposes of any of Her Majesty’s forces but are not service living accommodation.
(1) Subsection (2) applies if a person (“A”) is in a garden or yard, or on other land, occupied with and used for the purposes of—
(a) a dwelling; or
(b) any service living accommodation within section 96(1)(a).
(2) A person (“B”) may not by virtue of section 78(a) or (b) search A in the exercise of the power conferred by section 75 or 76 unless B has reasonable grounds for believing—
(a) that A does not reside in the dwelling or service living accommodation; and
(b) that A is not in the place in question with the express or implied permission of a person who resides in the dwelling or service living accommodation.
(3) Subsection (4) applies if a vehicle is in a garden or yard, or on other land, occupied with and used for the purposes of—
(a) a dwelling; or
(b) any service living accommodation within section 96(1)(a).
(4) A person may not by virtue of section 78(a) or (b) search the vehicle or anything in or on it in the exercise of the power conferred by section 75 or 76 unless he has reasonable grounds for believing—
(a) that the person in charge of the vehicle does not reside in the dwelling or service living accommodation; and
(b) that the vehicle is not in the place in question with the express or implied permission of a person who resides in the dwelling or service living accommodation.
(5) In this section “dwelling” does not include any dwelling which is permanently or temporarily occupied or controlled for the purposes of any of Her Majesty’s forces.
(1) The time for which a person or vehicle may be detained for the purposes of a search under section 75 or 76 is such time as is reasonably required to permit a search to be carried out either at the place where the person or vehicle was first detained or nearby.
(2) Nothing in section 75 or 76 authorises anyone to require a person to remove any of his clothing in public other than an outer coat, jacket, headgear or gloves.
(3) The reference in subsection (2) to headgear does not include headgear worn for religious purposes.
(4) Nothing in this Chapter limits the powers exercisable on any premises if, or to the extent that, the premises are being used for keeping persons in service custody.
The Secretary of State may by order make provision, in relation to the search of persons or vehicles under section 75 or 76, which is equivalent to that made by any provision of—
(a) section 2(1) to (7) and (9)(b) of PACE (provisions relating to search under section 1 of that Act and other powers), and
(b) section 3 of PACE (duty to make records concerning searches),
subject to such modifications as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
This Chapter applies to ships and aircraft as it applies to vehicles.
(1) A judge advocate may issue a warrant authorising a service policeman to enter and search premises if—
(a) an application for the warrant, specifying the premises, is made by a service policeman; and
(b) the judge advocate is satisfied that the premises are relevant residential premises and that there are reasonable grounds for believing—
(i) that a relevant offence has been committed;
(ii) that there is on the premises material which is likely to be of substantial value (whether by itself or together with other material) to the investigation of the offence;
(iii) that the material would be likely to be admissible in evidence at a trial for the offence;
(iv) that it does not consist of or include items subject to legal privilege, excluded material or special procedure material; and
(v) that any of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) applies.
(2) Those conditions are—
(a) that it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to grant entry to the premises;
(b) that it is practicable to communicate with a person entitled to grant entry to the premises but it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to grant access to the evidence;
(c) that entry to the premises will not be granted unless a warrant is produced;
(d) in the case of service living accommodation within section 96(1)(b) or (c)—
(i) that it is not practicable to communicate with the person or (as the case may be) any of the persons for whom the accommodation is provided; or
(ii) that there is no such person with whom it is practicable to communicate who will agree to grant access to the accommodation without the production of a warrant;
(e) that the purpose of a search may be frustrated or seriously prejudiced unless a service policeman arriving at the premises can secure immediate entry to them.
(3) A service policeman may seize and retain anything for which a search has been authorised under subsection (1).
(1) Subsections (2) to (4) apply for the purposes of section 83.
(2) “Relevant offence” means any of the following—
(a) an offence under section 42 as respects which the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales is an indictable offence;
(b) a service offence specified for the purposes of this subsection in an order made by the Secretary of State;
(c) a service offence whose commission has led to, or is intended or is likely to lead to, any of the consequences mentioned in subsection (5).
(3) “Relevant residential premises” means—
(a) service living accommodation; or
(b) premises occupied as a residence (alone or with other persons) by—
(i) a person subject to service law;
(ii) a civilian subject to service discipline; or
(iii) a person who is suspected of having committed an offence in relation to which the warrant is sought.
(4) “Items subject to legal privilege”, “excluded material” and “special procedure material” have the meanings given (respectively) by sections 10, 11 and 14 of PACE, but as if in section 11(2)(b) of PACE “enactment” included any provision of—
(a) an Act of the Scottish Parliament or Northern Ireland legislation; or
(b) an instrument made under such an Act or under Northern Ireland legislation.
(5) The consequences referred to in subsection (2)(c) are—
(a) serious harm to the security of the State or to public order;
(b) serious interference with the administration of justice or with the investigation of offences or of a particular offence;
(c) the death of any person;
(d) serious injury to any person;
(e) substantial financial gain to any person;
(f) serious financial loss to any person;
(g) the undermining of discipline or morale among members of any of Her Majesty’s forces.
(6) In subsection (5)(d) “injury” includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (5)(f), loss is serious if (having regard to all the circumstances) it is serious for the person who suffers it.
The Secretary of State may by order—
(a) make provision authorising the use, in connection with applications under section 83 to judge advocates, of live television or telephone links or similar arrangements;
(b) make provision, in relation to warrants issued under that section or entry and search under such a warrant, which is equivalent to that made by any provision of sections 15 and 16 of PACE (which relate to the issue to constables of warrants to enter and search premises), subject to such modifications as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(1) The Secretary of State may by order make provision enabling a service policeman to obtain access to excluded material or special procedure material on relevant residential premises, for the purpose of an investigation of a relevant offence, by making an application in accordance with the order to a judge advocate.
(2) An order under this section may in particular—
(a) provide for any provision of Schedule 1 to PACE (which relates to applications by constables to judges for access to excluded material or special procedure material) to apply (with modifications) for the purposes of the order;
(b) authorise the use, in connection with any application made by virtue of the order, of live television or telephone links or similar arrangements.
(3) In this section “relevant residential premises” means—
(a) service living accommodation; or
(b) premises occupied as a residence (alone or with other persons) by—
(i) a person subject to service law;
(ii) a civilian subject to service discipline; or
(iii) a person who is suspected of having committed the relevant offence concerned.
(4) In this section “excluded material”, “special procedure material” and “relevant offence” have the meanings given by section 84.
(1) An officer may authorise a service policeman to enter and search premises within subsection (3) if the officer has reasonable grounds for believing—
(a) that the conditions mentioned in section 83(1)(b)(i) to (v) are satisfied in relation to the premises; and
(b) that it is likely that the purpose of the search would be frustrated or seriously prejudiced if no search could be carried out before the time mentioned in subsection (2).
Armed Forces Act 2006