2[F1(1) An enlisting officer shall not enlist a person under the age of 18 unless consent to the enlistment has been given in writing by—U.K.
(a)an appropriate person; or
(b)if the person offering to enlist is living with more than one appropriate person, each of those appropriate persons.
[F1(1A)In this paragraph “appropriate person” means, in relation to a person offering to enlist, a person with—
(a)parental responsibility (within the meaning of the Children Act 1989 or the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995) for him; or
(b)parental responsibilities (within the meaning of section 1(3) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995) in relation to him.]
(2)Where the enlisting officer is satisfied, by the production of a certified copy of an entry in the register of births or by any other evidence appearing to him to be sufficient, that a person offering to enlist has or has not attained the [F2age of 18], that person shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to have attained, or as the case may be, not to have attained, that age.
(3)A document purporting to be a certificate signed by the enlisting officer, stating that he is satisfied as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), shall be sufficient evidence, until the contrary is proved, that he was so satisfied.]
Textual Amendments
F1Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(1A) substituted for Sch. 1 para. 2(1) (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 54(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
F2Words in Sch. 1 para. 2(2) substituted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 14 para. 54(3); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4