Emergency Laws (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1947

2 (1) An order made by the appropriate authorities may, as respects any area specified in the order, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, authorise the exercise—

(a) by naval provost marshals of the powers of army provost marshals in relation to persons subject to military law, and by army provost marshals of the powers of naval provost marshals in relation to persons subject to the Naval Discipline Act; or

(b) by naval provost marshals of the powers of air force provost marshals in relation to persons subject to the Air Force Act, and by air force provost marshals of the powers of naval provost marshals in relation to persons subject to the Naval Discipline Act; or

(c) by army provost marshals of the powers of air force provost marshals in relation to persons subject to the Air Force Act, and by air force provost marshals of the powers of army provost marshals in relation to persons subject to military law; or

(d) by naval provost marshals of the powers of army provost marshals in relation to persons subject to military law and of air force provost marshals in relation to persons subject to the Air Force Act, by army provost marshals of the powers of naval provost marshals in relation to persons subject to the Naval Discipline Act and of air force provost marshals in relation to persons subject to the Air Force Act, and by air force provost marshals of the powers of naval provost marshals in relation to persons subject to the Naval Discipline Act and of army provost marshals in relation to persons subject to military law.

In this sub-paragraph the expression " the appropriate authorities " means the Admiralty and the Army Council, the Admiralty and the Air Council, the Army Council and the Air Council, or the Admiralty, the Army Council and the Air Council, according as the order makes the provision specified in (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this sub-paragraph.

(2) The powers conferred by or under the preceding sub-paragraph on any provost marshal shall be exercisable also by his assistants, and by any officer, or seaman or marine, soldier or airman, as the case may be, legally exercising authority under him or on his behalf :

Provided that no officer shall be arrested or detained otherwise than on the order of another officer.

(3) Nothing in the preceding provisions shall be construed as affecting any powers of arrest or detention exercisable apart from those provisions.

(4) Any order made under Regulation 9 of the Defence (Armed Forces) Regulations, 1939, and in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue in force and have effect as if it had been made under sub-paragraph (1) hereof.