Armed Forces Act 1981
Part I
Continuance of Services Acts
1
Continuance of Services Acts
Part II
Trial and Punishment of Offences
2
Young service offenders: custodial orders.
3
Power to stay further proceedings under one of the Services Acts with a view to other proceedings.
4
Marines: forfeiture of service where desertion confessed.
5
Power on reveiw or confirmation to annul the taking into consideration of other offences.
6
Trial of persons ceasing to be subject to service law and time limits for trials.
7
Extent of accused’s right to copy of record of court-martial proceedings.
8
Right of penalised parent or guardian to copy of record of court-martial proceedings.
9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10
Amendments relating to trial and punishment of civilians under the Services Acts.
11
Minor amendments and repeals relating to procedure and evidence.
12
Increase in fine for certain minor offences under the Reserve Forces Act 1980 .
Part III
Miscellaneous
New powers in relation to persons under incapacity
13
Temporary removal to and detention for treatment in service hospitals abroad of servicemen and others suffering from mental disorder.
14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amendments of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 as to offences and punishments
15
Prize offence : minor amendment as to intent.
16
Power on summary trial to award stoppages.
17
Abolition of death penalty for spying in ships, etc. abroad.
Amendments of the Services Acts relating to evidence and proceedings thereunder
18. . . . . . . . . ....
19
Officers who can take affidavits and declarations abroad.
20
Women’s services: statutory assimilation and application thereto of certain enactments.
21
Clarification of the meaning in the Naval Discipline Act 1957 of “marine forces” and “naval reserve forces”.
22
Members of the armed forces are “employees” for the purposes of the Patents Act 1977.
23
Inquiries : persons affected who must be given a opportunity to be present and represented.
24
Abolition of the office of Accountant General of the Navy.
25
Naval prize cash balance not to include percentage deduction.
26
Payment of military pensions.
27
Naval and marine pay and pensions: no further publication in London Gazette.
Part IV
General
28
Minor and consequential amendments and repeals.
29
Commencement.
30
Short title.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1
Amendments Relating to Trial of Civilians, Etc.
.... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ....
SCHEDULE 2
Minor Amendments and Repeals Relating to Procedure and Evidence
.... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ....
SCHEDULE 3
Women’s Services
Part I
Statutory Assimilation
Existing enactments
1
(1) Every enactment which refers to the armed forces or...
Future enactments
2. . . . . . . . . ....
Part II
Specific
3
In section 2 of the Pensions Commutation Act 1871 ,...
4
In section 2(b) of the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act 1884...
5
In the Uniforms Act 1894 , the following section shall...
6
In section 4 of the Air Force (Consititution) Act 1917...
7
In section 5(1) and in the definition of “British ship”...
8
In section 68(2) of the Marriage Act 1949 , in...
9. . . . . . . . . ....
10
In section 21(5) of the Armed Forces Act 1976 ,...
Part III
Application to QARNNS and WRNS of Provisions of 1966 Act as to Discharge, Etc.
Preliminary
11
(1) The provisions of the Armed Forces Act 1966 specified...
Postponement of discharge in event of war, etc.
12
Section 4 (postponement of discharge or transfer to the reserve)...
Discharge
13
Section 6 (except subsection (5)) shall apply to ratings of...
False statements on entry
14
Section 8 shall apply to persons offering themselves for service...
SCHEDULE 4
Minor and Consequential Amendments
The Army Act 1955
1. . . . . . . . . ....
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
2
Minor and Consequential Amendments
The Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978
3
Minor and Consequential Amendments
SCHEDULE 5
Repeals
Part I
Repeals consequent on assimilation of Women’s Services
Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom
Nothing in the repeal of a reference in any enactment...
Part II
Other Repeals
1
The following repeals shall come into force on the day...
2
The repeal of section 1 of the Armed Forces Act...
3
Subject to paragraphs 1 and 2 above, the repeals contained...

Armed Forces Act 1981
1981 c. 55
An Act to continue the Army Act 1955, the Air Force Act 1955 and the Naval Discipline Act 1957; to amend those Acts and other enactments relating to the armed forces; to confer new powers for the temporary detention abroad of servicemen or civilians subject to those Acts suffering from mental disorder or the children of service and certain civilian families in need of care or control; to complete the assimilation for statutory purposes of the women’s services with the rest of the armed forces; to amend the Patents Act 1977 in relation to inventions by members of the armed forces; to abolish the office of Accountant General of the Navy; to make further provision in relation to the naval prize cash balance; and for connected purposes.
[28th July 1981]
Act partly in force 28.07.1981 see s. 29. Act wholly in force 28.07.1982.
Act: power to amend conferred (4.6.2007) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 381, 383(2); S.I. 2007/1442, art. 2(2)