Part 5Investigation, Charging and Mode of Trial
Chapter 1Investigation
Duty of service policeman following investigation
I1I2C1C2116Referral of case following investigation by service or civilian police
1
This section applies where—
a
a service police force F10or the tri-service serious crime unit has investigated an allegation which indicates, or circumstances which indicate, that a service offence has or may have been committed; or
b
a UK police force or overseas police force has investigated such an allegation or such circumstances and has referred the matter to a service police force F10or the tri-service serious crime unit.
2
If—
a
a service policeman considers that there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with F2a service offence that is not a CO offence, or
b
a service policeman considers that there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with F3a service offence that is a CO offence, and is aware of circumstances of a description prescribed by regulations under section 128 for the purposes of this paragraph,
he must refer the case to the Director of Service Prosecutions (“the Director”).
3
If—
a
a service policeman considers that there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with a service offence, F4...
b
subsection (2) does not apply F5, and
c
section 117(5) (referral of connected cases to DSP) does not apply,
he must refer the case to the person's commanding officer.
F14
Subsection (4A) applies if—
a
the allegation or circumstances would indicate to a reasonable person that F6a person has committed, or might have committed, a service offence which is not one that may be dealt with at a summary hearing (see section 53), or
b
any circumstances investigated are circumstances of a description prescribed by regulations under section 128 for the purposes of section 114,
and a service policeman proposes not to refer the case to the Director under subsection (2) F7or section 117(5).
4A
If this subsection applies, the service policeman must consult the Director as soon as is reasonably practicable (and before any referral of the case under subsection (3)).
5
F8For the purposes of this section—
a
there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with an offence if, were the evidence suggesting that the person committed the offence to be adduced in proceedings for the offence, the person could properly be convicted F9, and
b
a service offence committed by a person is a “CO offence” if a charge against the person in respect of the offence is capable of being heard summarily by the person's commanding officer (see section 52).