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Armed Forces Act 2006

Changes over time for: Cross Heading: The Service Civilian Court: court and proceedings

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Armed Forces Act 2006, Cross Heading: The Service Civilian Court: court and proceedings is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 19 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Part 11 Crossheading The-service-civilian-court-court-and-proceedings:

  • specified provision(s) transitional provisions for effects of commencing SI 2009/812 by S.I. 2009/1059 Order

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

The Service Civilian Court: court and proceedingsU.K.

277The Service Civilian CourtU.K.

(1)There shall be a court, to be known as the Service Civilian Court.

[F1(2)The Service Civilian Court may sit in any place, whether within or outside the United Kingdom.]

Textual Amendments

F1S. 277(2) substituted (2.4.2012) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), ss. 18, 32(3); S.I. 2012/669, art. 4(a)

Commencement Information

I1S. 277 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)

I2S. 277 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

278Constitution and proceedings of the Service Civilian CourtU.K.

(1)In any proceedings, the Service Civilian Court is to consist of a single judge advocate.

(2)The judge advocate for any proceedings is to be specified by or on behalf of the Judge Advocate General.

(3)Schedule 10 (proceedings of the Service Civilian Court) has effect.

Commencement Information

I3S. 278 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)

I4S. 278 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

279Court must consider whether trial by Court Martial more appropriateU.K.

(1)Before arraignment, the Service Civilian Court must decide whether it or the Court Martial should try the charge.

(2)Before making a decision under this section, the court must—

(a)give the Director of Service Prosecutions (“the Director”) an opportunity to inform the court of the defendant's previous convictions (if any); and

(b)give the Director and the defendant an opportunity to make representations as to whether the Service Civilian Court or the Court Martial should try the charge.

(3)In making a decision under this section, the court must consider—

(a)the nature of the case;

(b)the seriousness of the offence;

(c)whether its powers of punishment in respect of the offence would be adequate;

(d)any other circumstances it considers to be relevant; and

(e)any representations made by the Director and the defendant.

(4)If the court decides that the charge should be tried by the Court Martial—

(a)it must refer the charge to that court; and

(b)the charge is to be regarded for the purposes of Part 5 as allocated for Court Martial trial.

(5)Section 238(3) (meaning of “previous conviction”) applies for the purposes of subsection (2)(a) above.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I5S. 279 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)

I6S. 279 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

280Right to elect trial by Court Martial instead of by SCCU.K.

(1)This section applies where the Service Civilian Court decides (under section 279) that it should try a charge.

(2)Before arraignment the court must, in the way specified by SCC rules, give the defendant the opportunity of electing Court Martial trial of the charge.

(3)If the defendant or (if more than one person is jointly charged) any of the defendants elects Court Martial trial of the charge—

(a)the Service Civilian Court must refer the charge to the Court Martial; and

(b)the charge is to be regarded for the purposes of Part 5 as allocated for Court Martial trial.

(4)If subsection (3) does not apply, the Service Civilian Court must try the charge (but this is subject to the exercise by the Director of Service Prosecutions of the power under section 126(2)(b), (d) or (e)).

(5)Where the Service Civilian Court is, in accordance with SCC rules, to try together two or more charges against the defendant, an election for Court Martial trial in respect of any of the charges takes effect as an election in respect of all of them.

Commencement Information

I7S. 280 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)

I8S. 280 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

281Power of SCC to convict of offence other than that chargedU.K.

Section 161 (power of Court Martial to convict of offence other than that charged) applies in relation to the Service Civilian Court as it applies in relation to the Court Martial.

Commencement Information

I9S. 281 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)

I10S. 281 in force at 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

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