186 Arrest of deserters and absentees without leave. F2U.K.
(1)A constable may arrest any person whom he has reasonable cause to suspect of being an officer, warrantofficer, non-commissioned officer or soldier of the regular forces who has deserted or is absent withoutleave.
(2)Where no constable is available, any officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier ofthe regular forces, or any other person, may arrest any person whom he has reasonable cause to suspect asaforesaid.
(3)Any person having authority to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person charged with crime, ifsatisfied by evidence on oath that there is, or is reasonably suspected of being, within his jurisdictionan officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier of the regular forces who has deserted oris absent without leave or is reasonably suspected of having deserted or of being absent without leave, mayissue a warrant authorising his arrest.
(4)Any person in custody in pursuance of this section shall as soon as practicable be brought before acourt of summary jurisdiction.
[F1(4A)A person shall also be brought before a court of summary jurisdiction if, having been brought beforesuch a court by virtue of subsection (4) above and discharged by that court by virtue of section 187(3)below—
(a)he is subsequently arrested as an alleged or suspected deserter or absentee without leave under section74 of this Act, or under a warrant issued under section 190A thereof, and
(b)the question whether he is in fact in desertion or absent without leave raises any issue which wasinvestigated by the court discharging him, and
(c)he does not admit that he is in desertion or absent without leave to the person arresting him under thesaid section 74 or, as the case may be, to the person into whose custody he is delivered pursuant to thesaid section 190A.]
(5)This section shall have effect in the United Kingdom and in any colony.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 186(4A) inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 56(1)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 186 extended by Guyana Independence Act 1966 (c. 14), s. 5(2)
Textual Amendments applied to the whole legislation
F2Act: the provisions of the 1955 Acts providing for findings of courts-martial to be subject to confirmation and to revision at the direction of the confirming officer cease to have effect (1.4.1997 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by virtue of 1996 c. 46, s. 15; S.I. 1997/304, arts. 2, 3, Sch. 2