97 Procuring or assisting desertion or absence without leave.F4U.K.
(1)Every person who, whether within or without [F1the United Kingdom],—
(a)procures or persuades any person subject to this Act to commit an offence of desertion, of absenting himself without leave or of improperly leaving his ship . . . F2; or
(b)knowing that any such person is about to commit such an offence as aforesaid, assists him in so doing; or
[F3(c)knowing any such person to have committed such an offence, procures or persuades or assists him to remain a deserter, absentee without leave or improperly absent from his ship . . . F3, or assists in his rescue from custody.]
shall be guilty of an offence against this section.
(2)A person guilty of an offence against this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both such a fine and such imprisonment, or on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.
Textual Amendments
F1Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52), s. 15(2)
F2Words repealed by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 78(4), Sch. 4 Pt. I
F3S. 97(1)(c) substituted by Armed Forces Act 1966 (c. 45), s. 18(2)
Textual Amendments applied to the whole legislation
F4Act repealed (prosp.) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 378, 383, Sch. 17 and the repeal being partly in force, as to which see individual provisions