Reserve Forces Act 1980

144 Assistance in desertion, etc.

(1) Any person who, in Northern Ireland or elsewhere—

(a) procures or persuades any member of the Ulster Defence Regiment to desert within the meaning of section 37 of the Army Act 1955 or to absent himself without leave, or

(b) knowing that any member of that force is about to desert as mentioned in paragraph (a) above or to absent himself without leave, assists him in so doing, or

(c) knowing any person to be a deserter within the meaning of that section 37 or an absentee without leave from that force, procures or persuades or assists him to remain such a deserter or absentee, or assists in his rescue from custody,

shall be liable—

(i) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both;

(ii) on conviction on indictment in Northern Ireland to a fine not exceeding £500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both ;

(iii) on conviction on indictment elsewhere in the United Kingdom to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(2) In subsection (1) above "the statutory maximum", in relation to a fine on summary conviction, means—

(a) in England and Wales, the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 28 of the [1977 c. 45.] Criminal Law Act 1977 (at the passing of this Act £1,000);

(b) in Scotland, the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 289B of the [1975 c. 21.] Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (at the passing of this Act £1,000); and

(c) in Northern Ireland, £50.