Part II Discipline and Trial and Punishment of Air-Force Offences
Trial of persons ceasing to be subject to air-force law and time limits for trials
C2132 Limitation of time for trial of offences under this Act. C1
F21
Where by virtue of any enactment proceedings on indictment for any civil offence must be brought within a limited period, no proceedings shall be taken against any person for an offence against section 70 of this Act corresponding to that civil offence unless the trial or proceedings on a summary dealing with the charge is or are begun before the end of that period.
2
Where a person who has committed an offence of desertion, other than desertion on active service, has since the offence served as a member of the regular air force continuously in an exemplary manner for not less than three years, he shall not be tried for that offence.
F33
Except in relation to the offences specified in subsection (3A) below, no proceedings shall be taken against a person by virtue of subsection (1) of section 131 of this Act unless—
a
in a case where the charge is one which may be dealt with summarily, the proceedings on the summary dealing with the charge are begun within three months or the trial by court-martial is begun within six months after he ceases to be subject to air-force law;
b
in a case where the charge is one which cannot be dealt with summarily, the trial is begun within six months after he ceases to be subject to air-force law.
3A
Subsection (3) above does not apply to an offence against section 31 or 32 of this Act or desertion or to an offence against section 70 where the civil offence is alleged to have been committed outside the United Kingdom and the Attorney General consents to the proceedings.
4
A person shall not be arrested or kept in custody by virtue of subsection (1) of the last foregoing section for an offence at any time after he has ceased to be triable for the offence.