Part 5Investigation, Charging and Mode of Trial
Chapter 1Investigation
Duties of commanding officers
I1I11113CO to ensure service police aware of possibility serious offence committed
1
If an officer becomes aware of an allegation or circumstances within subsection (2), he must as soon as is reasonably practicable ensure that a service police force is aware of the matter.
2
An allegation is, or circumstances are, within this subsection if it or they would indicate to a reasonable person that a Schedule 2 offence has or may have been committed by a relevant person.
3
In subsection (2) “relevant person” means a person whose commanding officer is the officer mentioned in subsection (1).
4
In this Chapter “Schedule 2 offence” means a service offence listed in Schedule 2.
5
The Secretary of State may by order amend Schedule 2.
I2I7114CO to ensure service police aware of certain circumstances
1
If an officer of a prescribed description becomes aware of circumstances of a prescribed description, he must as soon as is reasonably practicable ensure that a service police force is aware of the matter.
2
In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations under section 128.
I3I12115Duty of CO with respect to investigation of service offences
1
This section applies where—
a
an officer becomes aware of an allegation or circumstances within subsection (2); and
b
the officer is not required by section 113(1) or 114(1) to ensure that a service police force is aware of the matter.
2
An allegation is, or circumstances are, within this subsection if it or they would indicate to a reasonable person that a service offence has or may have been committed by a relevant person.
3
In subsection (2) “relevant person” means a person whose commanding officer is the officer mentioned in subsection (1).
4
The officer must either—
a
ensure that the matter is investigated in such way and to such extent as is appropriate; or
b
ensure, as soon as is reasonably practicable, that a service police force is aware of the matter.
5
Subsection (4) does not apply if the matter has already been investigated in such way and to such extent as is appropriate.
Duty of service policeman following investigation
I4I8116Referral of case following investigation by service or civilian police
1
This section applies where—
a
a service police force has investigated an allegation which indicates, or circumstances which indicate, that a service offence has or may have been committed; or
b
a UK police force or overseas police force has investigated such an allegation or such circumstances and has referred the matter to a service police force.
2
If—
a
a service policeman considers that there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with a Schedule 2 offence, or
b
a service policeman considers that there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with any other service offence, and is aware of circumstances of a description prescribed by regulations under section 128 for the purposes of this paragraph,
he must refer the case to the Director of Service Prosecutions (“the Director”).
3
If—
a
a service policeman considers that there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with a service offence, and
b
subsection (2) does not apply,
he must refer the case to the person's commanding officer.
4
If—
a
the allegation or circumstances gave rise to the duty under section 113(1) or 114(1), and
b
a service policeman proposes not to refer the case to the Director under subsection (2),
he must consult the Director as soon as is reasonably practicable (and before any referral of the case under subsection (3)).
5
For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3) there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with an offence if, were the evidence suggesting that the person committed the offence to be adduced in proceedings for the offence, the person could properly be convicted.
I5I10117Section 116: position where investigation is of multiple offences or offenders
1
This section applies where the investigation mentioned in section 116(1) relates to two or more incidents (or alleged incidents) or the conduct (or alleged conduct) of two or more persons.
2
Each person's conduct in relation to each incident is to be regarded as giving rise to a separate case.
3
If a case is referred under section 116(2) to the Director of Service Prosecutions—
a
any other case of a description prescribed by regulations under section 128 for the purposes of this paragraph is to be treated as referred under section 116(2) to the Director of Service Prosecutions; and
b
nothing in section 116(3) or (4) applies in relation to any case treated as so referred.
I6I9118Duty of service policeman to notify CO of referral to DSP
1
This section applies where a service policeman considers that there is sufficient evidence to charge a person (“A”) with a service offence and refers the case under section 116(2) to the Director of Service Prosecutions.
2
The service policeman must as soon as reasonably practicable after referring the case—
a
notify A's commanding officer of the referral; and
b
provide prescribed documents to A's commanding officer.
3
A notification under subsection (2)(a) must specify—
a
the service offence the service policeman considers there is sufficient evidence to charge A with; and
b
where that offence is not a Schedule 2 offence, the circumstances he is aware of that are of a description prescribed as mentioned in section 116(2)(b).
4
In this section—
a
any reference to there being sufficient evidence to charge a person with a service offence is to be read in accordance with section 116(5);
b
“prescribed documents” means documents prescribed for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) by regulations under section 128.
5
Section 117(3)(a) (certain cases to be treated as referred under section 116(2)) does not apply for the purposes of this section.