Naval Discipline Act 1957

56 Place and time of sittings of courts-martial

(1) A court-martial shall be held on board such of Her Majesty's ships or vessels, or at such premises on shore, whether within or out of the United Kingdom, as may be appointed by the authority ordering the court-martial, of by any officer designated in that behalf by that authority.

(2) A court-martial may, if it appears to the court to be expedient in the interests of justice, be adjourned, either generally or for the purpose of any part of the proceedings, to any other ship, vessel or place and shall, if so required by the authority or officer referred to in subsection (1) of this section, be adjourned to any other ship, vessel or place appointed by that authority or officer.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of the last foregoing subsection, a court-martial may, if it appears to the court that an adjournment is desirable for any reason, be adjourned for such period as the court thinks fit:

Provided that except with the consent of the accused and the prosecutor the period for which the court may be adjourned under this subsection shall not on any occasion exceed six days.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this section, a court-martial shall, unless prevented by weather or other unavoidable cause, sit from day to day (with the exception of Sundays) until the court has arrived at a finding and, in the case of a conviction, until sentence is pronounced.