Armed Forces Act 1971
1971 c. 33
An Act to continue the Army Act 1955 and the Air Force Act 1955, to limit the duration of the Naval Discipline Act 1957, and to amend those Acts and other enactments relating to the armed forces.
Act amended (women's services) by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55, SIF 7:1), s. 20, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1
Part I Duration of Services Acts
1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
Part II Revision of Service Offences and Punishments
Misconduct in action and other offences arising out of military etc. service
F182 Misconduct in action, assisting the enemy, obstructing operations, etc.
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F183 Prize offences.
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F184 Offences by or in relation to sentries, persons on watch etc.
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F185 Failure to attend for duty, neglect of duty etc.
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F186 Looting
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Mutiny, insubordination, etc.
F187 Mutiny
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F188 Insurbodinate behaviour, and disobedience to lawful commands.
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F189 Obstruction of provost officers etc.
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F1810 Disobedience to standing orders etc.
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Desertion, absence without leave, etc.
F1811 Desertion.
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F1812 Absence without leave.
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F1813 Failure to report or apprehend deserters or absentees.
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Malingering, drunkenness and disorderly conduct
F1814 Malingering.
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F1815 Drunkeness.
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F1816 Disorderly conduct.
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Offences relating to service etc. property
F1817 Service etc. property: damage, loss, misapplication and waste.
F181
The following provisions shall be substituted for sections 44 to 46 of the Army Act 1955:—
44Damage to, and loss of, public or service propertyetc.
1
Any person subject to military law who—
a
wilfully damages or causes the loss of, or service is concerned in the wilful damage or loss property of, any public or service property, or anyetc.property belonging to another person so subject, or
b
by wilful neglect causes or allows damage to, or the loss of, any public or service property or property so belonging,
shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment or any less punishment provided by this Act.
2
Any person subject to military law who—
a
by any negligent act or omission causes or allows damage to, or the loss of, any public or service property, or
b
is guilty of any wilful or negligent act or omission which is likely to cause damage to, or the loss of, any such property,
shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.
44ADamage to, loss of, Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material.
1
Without prejudice to the generality of section 44 above, a person subject to military law shall be guilty of an offence against this section if he—
a
wilfully damages or causes the loss of, or is material. concerned in the wilful damage or loss of, any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material, or
b
by wilful neglect causes or allows damage to, or the loss of, any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material, or
c
without lawful authority disposes of any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material, or
d
by any negligent act or omission causes or allows damage to, or the loss of, any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material, or
e
is guilty of any wilful or negligent act or omission which is likely to cause damage to, or the loss of, any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material, or
f
during a state of war, wilfully and without proper occasion, or negligently, causes the sequestration by or under the authority of a neutral state, or the destruction in a neutral state, of any of Her Majesty’s aircraft.
2
A person guilty of an offence against this section shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable—
a
if his offence consisted in an act or omission falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1), or if it consisted in an act or omission falling within paragraph (f) of that subsection and it is proved that he acted wilfully or with wilful neglect, to imprisonment or any less punishment provided by this Act;
b
in any other case, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.
45Misapplication and waste of public or service property.
Any person subject to military law who misapplies or wastefully expends any public or service property shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.
46Offences relating to issues and decorations.
1
Any person subject to military law makes away with (whether by pawning, selling, destroying or in any other way), or loses, or by negligence damages or allows to be damaged—
a
any clothing, arms, ammunition or other equipment issued to him for his use for military purposes, or
b
any military, air-force or naval decoration granted to him,
shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.
2
It shall be a defence for a person charged under this section with losing any property that he took reasonable steps for its care and preservation.
2
The provisions set out in subsection (1) above shall also be substituted for sections 44 to 46 of the Air Force Act 1955, but modified for that purpose by the substitution throughout of “air-force law” for “military law” and, in the provision to become section 46 of that Act, of “air-force purposes” for “military purposes” and “air-force, military or naval decoration” for “military, air-force or naval decoration”.
3
The provisions set out in subsection (1) above and numbered there as sections 44, 44A and 45 shall also be substituted for sections 29 and 30 of the Naval Discipline Act 1957, being numbered as sections 29, 29A and 30 of that Act respectively, and being modified for that purpose by the substitution throughout of “person subject to this Act” for “person subject to military law” and of “punishment authorised by this Act” for “punishment provided by this Act”, by the substitution, in the provision to become section 29A, of “29” for “44”, and by the omission throughout of “on conviction by court-martial”.
Billeting offences
F1818 Billeting offences.
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Offences relating to, and by, persons in custody
F1822 Permitting escape, resisting arrest, and escaping.
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Miscellaneous offences
F1823 Offences in relation to courts-martial.
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F1824 Unauthorised disclosure of information.
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F1825 False statements on entry into Royal Navy.
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F226. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F1927 Offences against civilian population.
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F1928 Offences against morale.
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F1929 Scandalous conduct by officers.
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F1930 Ill-treatment of persons of inferior rank etc.
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F1931 Disgraceful conduct.
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F1932 Attempts, aiding and abetting etc., and inciting.
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F1933 Conduct to the prejudice of service discipline.
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F1934 Civil offences.
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Abolition of certain offences
F1935 Abolition of certain offences.
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Punishments
F1936 Punishments for army and air-force offences dealt with courts-martial.
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F1937 Punishments for army and air-force offences dealt with summarily.
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F1938 Punishments for naval offences.
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F1939 Imprisonment and detention: consecutive terms.
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F1940 Detention for army and air-force offences: limitation of total period.
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Other provisions
F1941 Time for trial of offences under s. 42 of Naval Discipline Act 1957.
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F1942 Naval offences by civilians.
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F1943 Consequential and minor, amendments.
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Part III REVISION OF PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO SERVICE OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENTS
F1944 Arrest by civil authorities.
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F1945 Exclusion of enactments requiring fiat of Attorney General etc. in connection with proceedings.
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F1946 Extension of powers of “higher authority” with respect to army and air-force charges.
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F1947 Amendments as to summary trial for naval offences.
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F1948 Amendments as to convening or ordering of court-martial.
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49C3 Amendments as to procedure of courts-martial, and evidence in naval disciplinary courts.
F61
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F62
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3
Section 6(1) of the M1Criminal Evidence Act 1898 (which applies that Act to all criminal proceedings, including proceedings in courts-martial) shall be amended by inserting after the words “courts-martial” the words “under the Army Act 1955 and the Air Force Act 1955, and proceedings in courts-martial and disciplinary courts under the Naval Discipline Act 1957”.
F2050 Army and air force courts-martial: amendments as to revision and confirmation of findings.
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F2051 Naval findings and sentences: amendments as to reviewing authorities.
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F2052 Countries for serving of naval sentences of imprisonment and detention.
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F2053 Commencment of naval sentences of imprisonment and detention.
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F2054 Remission of sentences of imprisonment and detention.
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F2055 Amendment of Naval Discipline Act 1957 as respects effect of taking offences into consideration.
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F2056 Amendments as to deserters and absentees without leave.
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F2057 Addition to Naval Discipline Act 1957 of provisions as to proof of proceedings.
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F2058 Fees for copies of proceedings of army and air-force courts-martial.
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Part IV FORFEITURE OF PAY ETC. AND DEDUCTIONS FROM PAY
F2059 Army and air force : new provisions for deductions in respect of judgement debts etc.
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F2060 Navy: amendments as to forefeitures for illegal absence.
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F2061 Navy: new provisions as to forfeitures and deductions generally, and as to deductions for civil penalties, judgement debts etc.
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F2062 Amendments of provisions as to service of process in maitenance proceedings.
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Part V Miscellaneous Amendments
F2063 Minimum age for enlistment or entry without parental etc. consent.
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F2064 Purchase of discharge from army and air force.
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F2065 Forefeiture of service for naval deserters.
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F2066 Redress of complaints.
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F2067 Naval billeting and requisitioning.
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F2068 Reductions in rank under Army Act 1955 and Air Force Act 1955.
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69
1
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F2170 Taking of affidavits and declarations abroad.
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F2171 Addition to Naval Discipline Act 1957 of provision indemnifying prison officers etc.
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F2172 Application of Army Act 1955 and Air Force Act 1955 to passengers in H.M. ships and aircraft.
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73C4 Appeal against sentence by civilians.
1
The M2Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (under which appeals to the Courts-Martial Appeal Court are confined to appeals against conviction) shall be amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) below.
2
In section 8—
a
at the end of subsection (1) (which confers the right of appeal) there shall be added the words “and, if he was a civilian (as defined in subsection (5) below) both at the time of his conviction and when the offence was committed, may also with the leave of the Court appeal against his sentence, unless it is one fixed by law”, and
b
the following subsection shall be added after subsection (4)—
5
In this section “civilian” means any person who is not subject to service law (meaning military law, air-force law and the Naval Discipline Act) and any person within section 208A or 209 of the Army Act, section 208A or 209 of the Air Force Act or section 117 or 118 of the Naval Discipline Act (which apply certain provisions of those Acts to passengers in Her Majesty’s ships and aircraft, persons employed by or accompanying Her Majesty’s forces, families of members of those forces etc.).
F73
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4
The provisions of Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect, being provisions making in the said Act of 1968 and the other enactments there specified amendments consequential on, or otherwise connected with, the preceding provisions of this section.
F974 Meaning of “active service” in Naval Discipline Act 1957.
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75 Amendments for introducing naval rate, and marine rank, of warrant officer. C5
The enactments specified in Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule, being amendments connected with the introduction of the naval rate, and the marine rank, of warrant officer.
F1076 Sufficency of evidence in Scottish courts.
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Part VI Supplemental
77 Repeals and transitional provisions.
C61
The enactments specified in Schedule 4 to this Act (Part II of which includes certain enactments which are spent) are hereby repealed to the extent specified in column 3 of that Schedule.
F82
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78 Short title, construction and commencement.
1
This Act may be cited as the Armed Forces Act 1971.
2
Except so far as the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to any other enactment is a reference to that enactment as amended by or under any subsequent enactment, including an enactment contained in this Act.
3
This Act, except section 1 and this section, shall come into force on such date as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, but subject to the qualifications specified in subsection (4) below.
4
The said qualifications are as follows:—
a
the following provisions of this Act, that is to say, Part II, section 69, Schedule 1 and Part I of Schedule 4, shall not have effect in relation to any act or omission occurring before the date appointed under subsection (3) above, and, in particular, shall not affect the operation of any enactment in force immediately before that date in relation to any offence against any such enactment committed, or partly committed, before that date;
b
the provisions to become sections 128B and 128C of the M3Naval Discipline Act 1957 by virtue of section 61(1) of this Act shall apply only to sums payable under sentences and orders awarded or made in respect of offences committed on or after the date appointed under subsection (3) above, or, as the case may be, to loss or damage occasioned by acts and omissions occurring on or after that date;
c
the provision to become section 129D of the M4Naval Discipline Act 1957 by virtue of section 65 of this Act shall apply only to desertions beginning on or after the date appointed under subsection (3) above, and the amendment of section 75(1) of that Act effected by section 60 of this Act and Part II of Schedule 4 shall have effect only in relation to absences so beginning.
5
Section 59 of this Act, the provision to become section 128E of the M5Naval Discipline Act 1957 by virtue of section 61(1) of this Act, and section 61(2) of this Act, shall each apply to liabilities arising before, as well as after, the date appointed under subsection (3) above.
F11SCHEDULE 1 AMENDMENTS ARISING FROM PART II OF THIS ACT
Sch. 1 repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
F11 The Army Act 1955 and the Air Force Act 1955
F111
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C7Schedule 2 AMENDMENTS ABOUT APPEALS AGAINST SENTENCE
The text of ss. 2–25, 27–32, 34–50, 52, 53, 55–63, 65, 66, 68, 70–75, 77(1), Schs. 2, 4 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968
1
1
The M6 Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 shall be amended as follows.
F172
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F173
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F174
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F175
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F226
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7
In section 34, the words “under subsection (1) above” shall be substituted for the words “this section” in subsection (2), and the following subsection shall be added after subsection (3):—
4
Where a person convicted by court-martial is a civilian as defined in section 8(5) of this Act, the Secretary of State may, if consideration thereof by the Appeal Court appears to him for any reason desirable, refer the sentence of the court-martial to the Court; and any such reference shall be treated as an appeal by the person convicted against sentence for all purposes except those of section 32 of this Act
F58
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The Army Act 1955 and the Air Force Act 1955
F122
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C8Schedule 3 AMENDMENTS FOR INTRODUCING NAVAL RATE, AND MARINE RANK, OF WARRANT OFFICER
The text of ss. 26, 33, 54, 67(3), 76, Schs. 1, 3 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and, except as specified, does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
The Greenwich Hospital Act 1865
2
In section 5 of the M8 Greenwich Hospital Act 1865, immediately before the words “non-commissioned officers”, in both places where they occur, there shall be inserted the words “warrant officers”.
The Army Act 1955
F144
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The Reserve Forces Act 1966
6
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The Armed Forces Act 1966
F167
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C9SCHEDULE 4 Repeals
The text of ss. 2–25, 27–32, 34–50, 52, 53, 55–63, 65, 66, 68, 70–75, 77(1), Schs. 2, 4 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
Words of enactment omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), s. 3