Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52)

Part 13 U.K. Discipline: Miscellaneous and Supplementary

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pts. 11-13 applied (with modifications) (31.10.2009) by The Armed Forces (Court Martial) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/2041), art. 1, rule 128(3)(4)

Chapter 1 U.K. [F1 Random Drug Testing]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 13 Ch. 1 heading substituted (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 10; S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)

305 [F2 Random drug testing] U.K.

(1) A drug testing officer may, in order for it to be ascertained whether or to what extent a person subject to service law has or has had drugs in his body, require the person to provide a sample of his urine for analysis.

(2) A drug testing officer may not impose a requirement under subsection (1) if—

(a) he or his commanding officer is the person's commanding officer; or

(b) the sample is sought in connection with an investigation under this Act of an offence F3 ....

(3) A person commits an offence if he fails to comply with a requirement imposed under subsection (1).

(4) In this section—

• “drug” means a controlled drug as defined by section 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (c. 38); and

• “drug testing officer” means an officer, warrant officer or non-commissioned officer who is authorised by or in accordance with regulations made by the Defence Council for the purpose of obtaining samples for analysis for drugs.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable to any punishment mentioned in the Table in section 164, but any sentence of imprisonment F4 ... imposed in respect of the offence must not exceed [F5 six months].

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 305 heading substituted (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 11(a); S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)

F3 Words in s. 305(2)(b) repealed (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 11(b), Sch. 5; S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)(e)

F4 Words in s. 305(5) repealed (2.4.2012) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), ss. 15(1), 32(3), Sch. 5; S.I. 2012/669, art. 4(a)(f)(ii) (with art. 8)

F5 Words in s. 305(5) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 25 para. 76 (with s. 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Commencement Information

I1 S. 305 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I2 S. 305 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F6 306 Testing for alcohol and drugs after serious incident U.K.

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Textual Amendments

F6 S. 306 repealed (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), ss. 11(2), 32(3), Sch. 5; S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(b)(e)

F7 307 Definitions etc for purposes of section 306 U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 307 repealed (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), ss. 11(2), 32(3), Sch. 5; S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(b)(e)

308 [F8 Section 305]: supplementary U.K.

(1) The Defence Council may by regulations make provision about the obtaining of samples under [F9 section 305(1)] and the analysis of such samples, including in particular provision—

(a) as to the number of samples which a person may be required to provide;

F10 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) enabling the person imposing a requirement under section 305(1) F11 ... to specify the way in which the sample is to be provided;

(d) prescribing circumstances in which a requirement under section 305(1) F12 ... may not be imposed;

(e) as to the equipment to be used, and the procedures to be followed, in obtaining or analysing samples;

(f) as to the qualifications and training of any persons engaged in obtaining or analysing samples.

F13 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) The results of any analysis of a sample provided pursuant to a requirement imposed under section 305(1) F14 ...are not admissible in evidence against any person in proceedings in respect of a service offence.

(4) Nothing in this Chapter limits the powers conferred by—

[F15 (za) Chapter 3A of Part 3,]

(a) any provision of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52), or

(b) any provision of an order under section 113(1) of PACE which makes provision equivalent to any provision of Part 5 of PACE (questioning and treatment of persons by police),

or affects the admissibility in any proceedings of evidence obtained under those powers.

Textual Amendments

F8 Words in s. 308 heading substituted (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 12(2); S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)

F9 Words in s. 308(1) substituted (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 12(3)(a); S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)

F10 S. 308(1)(b) repealed (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 12(3)(b), Sch. 5; S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)(e)

F11 Words in s. 308(1)(c) repealed (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 12(3)(c), Sch. 5; S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)(e)

F12 Words in s. 308(1)(d) repealed (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 12(3)(d), Sch. 5; S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)(e)

F13 S. 308(2) repealed (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 12(4), Sch. 5; S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)(e)

F14 Words in s. 308(3) repealed (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 12(5), Sch. 5; S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)(e)

F15 S. 308(4)(za) inserted (1.11.2013) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 4 para. 12(6); S.I. 2013/2501, art. 3(d)

Commencement Information

I3 S. 308 in force at 28.3.2009 for specified purposes by S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)

I4 S. 308 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4