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Air Force Act 1955

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).

  1. Introductory Text

  2. PART I Enlistment and Terms of Service

    1. Enlistment

      1. 1.Recruiting officers

      2. 2.Enlistment

    2. Enlistment for general or corps service

      1. 3.Enlistment for general or corps service

    3. Terms and conditions of service

      1. 4.Terms of enlistment

      2. 5.Change of conditions of service by extension of term or of air-force service

      3. 6.Change of conditions of service by transfer to or from the reserve

      4. 7.Re-engagement

    4. Extension of service

      1. 8.Continuance in service after term of re-engagement

      2. 9.Postponement in certain cases of discharge or transfer to the reserve

      3. 10.Continuation of air-force service in imminent national danger

    5. Discharge and transfer to reserve

      1. 11.Discharge

      2. 12.Transfer to the reserve

      3. 13.Postponement of discharge or transfer pending proceedings for offences

      4. 14.Right of recruit to purchase discharge

      5. 15.Right of warrant officer to discharge on reduction to ranks

      6. 16.Discharge of airmen of unsound mind

    6. Miscellaneous and supplementary provisions

      1. 17.Forfeiture of service for desertion and restoration of forfeited service

      2. 18.Validity of attestation and enlistment

      3. 19.False answers in attestation paper

      4. 20.Special provisions as to National Service men

      5. 21.Service of aliens in regular air force

      6. 22.Regulations as to enlistment

      7. 23.Interpretation

  3. PART II Discipline and Trial and Punishment of Air-Force Offences

    1. Treachery, cowardice and offences arising out of air-force service

      1. 24.Aiding the enemy

      2. 25.Communication with the enemy

      3. 26.Cowardly behaviour

      4. 27.Offences against morale

      5. 28.Becoming prisoner of war through disobedience or wilful neglect; and failure to rejoin forces

      6. 29.Offences by or in relation to sentries, etc.

      7. 30.Looting

    2. Mutiny and insubordination

      1. 31.Mutiny

      2. 32.Failure to suppress mutiny

      3. 33.Insubordinate behaviour

      4. 34.Disobedience to particular orders

      5. 35.Obstruction of provost officers

      6. 36.Disobedience to standing orders

    3. Desertion, absence without leave, etc.

      1. 37.Desertion

      2. 38.Absence without leave

      3. 39.Assisting and concealing desertion and absence without leave

      4. 40.Falsely obtaining or prolonging leave

      5. 41.Failure to perform air-force duties

    4. Malingering and drunkenness

      1. 42.Malingering

      2. 43.Drunkenness

    5. Offences relating to property

      1. 44.Offences in relation to public and service property

      2. 45.Offences in relation to property of members of forces

      3. 46.Miscellaneous offences relating to property

    6. Offences relating to billeting and requisitioning of vehicles

      1. 47.Billeting offences

      2. 48.Offences in relation to requisitioning of vehicles

    7. Flying etc. offences

      1. 49.Dangerous flying, etc.

      2. 50.Inaccurate certification of aircraft, etc.

      3. 51.Low flying

      4. 52.Annoyance by flying

    8. Offences relating to, and by, persons in custody

      1. 53.Irregular arrest and confinement

      2. 54.Permitting escape, and unlawful release of prisoners

      3. 55.Resistance to arrest

      4. 56.Escape from confinement

    9. Offences in relation to courts-martial and civil authorities

      1. 57.Offences in relation to courts-martial

      2. 58.False evidence

      3. 59.Obstruction of constable arresting officer or airman

    10. Miscellaneous offences

      1. 60.Injurious disclosures

      2. 61.Making of false statements on enlistment

      3. 62.Making of false documents

      4. 63.Offences against civilian population

      5. 64.Scandalous conduct of officer

      6. 65.Ill-treatment of officers or men of inferior rank

      7. 66.Disgraceful conduct

      8. 67.False accusation, etc.

      9. 68.Attempts to commit air-force offences

      10. 69.Conduct to prejudice of air-force discipline

    11. Civil offences

      1. 70.Civil offences

    12. Punishments

      1. 71.Punishment of officers

      2. 72.Punishment of W.O.S, N.C.O.S and airmen

      3. 73.Field punishment

    13. Arrest

      1. 74.Power to arrest offenders

      2. 75.Provisions for avoiding delay after arrest

    14. Investigation of, and summary dealing with, charges

      1. 76.Investigation of charges by commanding officer

      2. 77.Charges to be dealt with summarily or by court-martial

      3. 78.Further proceedings on charges against N.C.O.S and airmen

      4. 79.Further proceedings on charges against officers and warrant officers

      5. 80.Dismissal of charges referred to higher authority

      6. 81.Confession of desertion by warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or airman

      7. 82.Officers who are to act as commanding officers and appropriate superior authorities

      8. 83.Limitation on powers of summary dealing with charges

    15. Courts-martial: general provisions

      1. 84.Trial to be by general court-martial, district court-martial or in certain cases field general court-martial

      2. 85.Powers of different descriptions of court-martial

      3. 86.Officers having power to convene courts-martial

      4. 87.Constitution of general courts-martial

      5. 88.Constitution of district courts-martial

      6. 89.Constitution of field general courts-martial

      7. 90.Supplementary provisions as to constitution of courts-martial

      8. 91.Place for sitting of courts-martial and adjournment to other places

    16. Courts-martial: provisions relating to trial

      1. 92.Challenges by accused

      2. 93.Administration of oaths

      3. 94.Courts-martial to sit in open court

      4. 95.Dissolution of courts-martial

      5. 96.Decisions of courts-martial

      6. 97.Finding and sentence

      7. 98.Power to convict of offence other than that charged

      8. 99.Rules of evidence

      9. 100.Privilege of witnesses and others at courts-martial

      10. 101.Offences by civilians in relation to courts-martial

      11. 102.Affirmations

    17. Offences: procedure

      1. 103.Rules of Procedure

      2. 104.Rules as to exercise of functions of judge advocate

      3. 105.Taking of offences into consideration

      4. 106.Rules of Procedure to be subject to annulment

    18. Confirmation, Revision and Review of Proceedings of Courts-Martial

      1. 107.Confirmation of proceedings of courts-martial

      2. 108.Petitions against finding or sentence

      3. 109.Revision of findings of courts-martial

      4. 110.Powers of confirming officers

      5. 111.Confirming officers

      6. 112.Approval as well as confirmation required for certain death sentences

      7. 113.Review of findings and sentences of courts-martial

      8. 114.Reconsideration of sentences of imprisonment and detention

    19. Review of summary findings and awards

      1. 115.Review of summary findings and awards

    20. Findings of insanity

      1. 116.Provisions where accused found insane

    21. Saving for functions of Judge Advocate General

      1. 117.Saving for functions of Judge Advocate General

    22. Commencement, suspension and duration of sentences

      1. 118.Commencement of sentences

      2. 119.Duration of sentences of imprisonment and detention

      3. 120.Suspension of sentences

    23. Execution of sentences of death, imprisonment and detention

      1. 121.Execution of sentences of death

      2. 122.Imprisonment and detention rules

      3. 123.Supplementary provisions relating to regulations and rules under ss. 121 and 122

      4. 124.Restrictions on serving of sentences of detention in prisons

      5. 125.Special provisions as to civil prisons in the United Kingdom

      6. 126.Special provisions as to carrying out or serving of sentences outside the United Kingdom otherwise than in air-force establishments

      7. 127.Country in which sentence of imprisonment or detention to be served

      8. 128.Application of enactments relating to coroners

      9. 129.Duties of governors of prisons and others to receive prisoners

      10. 130.Application to military establishments and custody

    24. Trial of persons ceasing to be subject to air-force law and time limits for trials

      1. 131.Trial and punishment of offences under this Act notwithstanding offender ceasing to be subject to air-force law

      2. 132.Limitation of time for trial of offences under this Act

    25. Relations between air-force law and civil courts and finality of trials

      1. 133.Powers of civil courts

      2. 134.Persons not to be tried under this Act for offences already disposed of

    26. Inquiries

      1. 135.Boards of inquiry

      2. 136.Inquiries into absence

      3. 137.Unit inquiries

    27. Miscellaneous provisions

      1. 138.Restitution or compensation for theft, etc.

      2. 139.Appointment of judge advocates

      3. 140.Promulgation

      4. 141.Custody of proceedings of courts-martial and right of accused to a copy thereof

      5. 142.Indemnity for prison officers, etc.

    28. Interpretation

      1. 143.Interpretation of Part II

  4. PART III Forfeitures and Deductions and Enforcement of Maintenance Liabilities

    1. 144.Forfeitures and deductions: general provisions

    2. 145.Forfeiture of pay for absence from duty

    3. 146.Deductions for payment of civil penalties

    4. 147.Compensation for loss occasioned by wrongful act or negligence

    5. 148.Deductions for barrack damage

    6. 149.Remission of forfeitures and deductions

    7. 150.Enforcement of maintenance and affiliation orders by deduction from pay

    8. 151.Deductions from pay for maintenance of wife or child

    9. 152.Limit of deductions under ss. 150 and 151 and effect on forfeiture

    10. 153.Service of process in maintenance proceedings

  5. PART IV Billeting and Requisitioning of Vehicles

    1. Billeting

      1. 154.Billeting requisitions

      2. 155.Premises in which billets may be provided

      3. 156.Provision of billets

      4. 157.Billeting schemes

      5. 158.Accommodation to be provided and payment therefor

      6. 159.Appeals against billeting

      7. 160.Compensation for damage

      8. 161.Refusal to receive persons billeted, etc.

      9. 162.Application to civilians employed with the air force

      10. 163.Local authority

      11. 164.Suspension of laws against billeting

    2. Requisitioning of vehicles

      1. 165.Requisitioning orders

      2. 166.Provision of vehicles

      3. 167.Period for which vehicles to be furnished

      4. 168.Payment for vehicles furnished

      5. 169.Avoidance of hardship in requisitioning of vehicles

      6. 170.Record and inspection of mechanically propelled vehicles

      7. 171.Enforcement of provisions as to requisitioning

      8. 172.Application to aircraft and stores

      9. 173.Liability of Crown for damage by vehicles being delivered for requisitioning

    3. General

      1. 174.Bringing into operation of ss. 154 and 165

      2. 175.Regulations and orders

      3. 176.Interpretation of Part IV

  6. PART V General Provisions

    1. Powers of command

      1. 177.Powers of command

      2. 178.Powers of command of members of co-operating naval or military forces

    2. Attachment to naval or military forces

      1. 179.Attachment of members of air forces to naval or military forces

    3. Redress of complaints

      1. 180.Complaints by officers

      2. 181.Complaints by warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and airmen

    4. Exemptions for members of regular air force

      1. 182.Officers on active list not to be sheriffs

      2. 183.Exemption from jury service

      3. 184.Exemptions from tolls, etc.

      4. 185.Exemption from taking in execution of property used for air-force purposes

    5. Provisions relating to deserters and absentees without leave

      1. 186.Arrest of deserters and absentees without leave

      2. 187.Proceedings before a civil court where persons suspected of illegal absence

      3. 188.Deserters and absentees without leave surrendering to police

      4. 189.Certificates of arrest or surrender of deserters and absentees

      5. 190.Duties of governors of prisons and others to receive deserters and absentees

    6. Offences relating to air-force matters punishable by civil courts

      1. 191.Punishment for pretending to be a deserter

      2. 192.Punishment for procuring and assisting desertion

      3. 193.Punishment for obstructing members of regular air force in execution of duty

      4. 194.Punishment for aiding malingering

      5. 195.Unlawful purchase, etc., of air-force stores

      6. 196.Illegal dealings in documents relating to pay, pensions, mobilisation, etc.

      7. 197.Unauthorised use of and dealing in decorations, etc.

    7. Provisions as to evidence

      1. 198.General provisions as to evidence

      2. 199.Proof of outcome of trial

      3. 200.Evidence of proceedings of courts-martial

    8. Miscellaneous provisions

      1. 201.Restrictions on reduction in rank of warrant officers and non-commissioned officers

      2. 202.Temporary reception in civil custody of persons under escort

      3. 203.Avoidance of assignment of or charge on air-force pay, pensions, etc.

      4. 204.Power of certain officers to take affidavits and declarations

  7. PART VI Application of Act and Supplemental Provisions

    1. Persons subject to air-force law

      1. 205.Persons subject to air-force law: general provisions

      2. 206.Persons subject to air-force law: Commonwealth forces

      3. 207.Persons subject to air-force law: Colonial forces

      4. 208.Persons subject to air-force law: attached members of naval and military forces

      5. 209.Application of Act to civilians

    2. Application of Act to particular forces

      1. 210.Application of Act to reserve and auxiliary forces

      2. 211.Modification of certain provisions in relation to women

    3. Application to different countries

      1. 212.Application to Scotland

      2. 213.Application to Northern Ireland

      3. 214.Application to Channel Islands and Isle of Man

      4. 215.Application to certain overseas territories

      5. 216.Provisions as to Federation of Malaya

      6. 217.Application to Republic of Ireland

    4. Supplemental provisions

      1. 218.Jurisdiction of courts

      2. 219.Disposal of summary fines in England

      3. 220.Provisions as to summary fines in colonies

      4. 221.Execution of orders, instruments, etc.

      5. 222.Provisions as to active service

      6. 223.General provisions as to interpretation

      7. 224.Short title, commencement and duration

  8. SCHEDULES

    1. FIRST SCHEDULE

      Procedure for Attestation

      1. 1.The recruiting officer shall warn the person to be enlisted...

      2. 2.He shall then read, or cause to be read, to...

      3. 3.He shall then ask that person to make and sign...

      4. 4.Upon signing the declaration and taking the oath the said...

      5. 5.The recruiting officer shall by signature attest, in the manner...

      6. 6.When in accordance with such regulations the recruit is finally...

    2. SECOND SCHEDULE

      Persons entitled to object to Enlistment of National Service men on Regular Engagement

    3. THIRD SCHEDULE

      Alternative offences of which accused may be convicted by court-martial

    4. FOURTH SCHEDULE

      Supplementary Provisions as to Payment for Requisitioned Vehicles

      1. 1.(1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, any payment...

      2. 2.(1) As soon as may be after the furnishing of...

      3. 3.(1) A person to whom a receipt or notice under...

      4. 4.(1) Subject to the provisions of the last foregoing paragraph...

      5. 5.The instructions of the Air Council referred to in paragraph...

      6. 6.In the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, the expression "...

      7. 7.Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Schedule shall apply...

      8. 8.A county court shall have jurisdiction to deal with any...

    5. FIFTH SCHEDULE

      Civilians outside the United Kingdom subject to Part II when not on Active Service

      1. 1.Persons serving Her Majesty, or otherwise employed, in such capacities...

      2. 2.Persons who are employed by, or in the service of,...

      3. 3.Persons belonging to or employed by any other organisation so...

      4. 4.Persons who, for the purposes of their profession or employment,...

      5. 5.Persons forming part of the family of members of any...

      6. 6.Persons forming part of the family of persons falling within...

      7. 7.Persons employed by members of any of Her Majesty's naval...

      8. 8.Persons employed by persons falling within paragraphs 1 to 6...

      9. 9.Persons forming part of the family of persons falling within...

    6. SIXTH SCHEDULE

      Application of Act to attached Members of Naval and Military Forces

      1. 1.(1) As respects the punishment of a person subject to...

      2. 2.For the purposes of the provisions of this Act relating...

      3. 3.As respects the reconsideration of any sentence of a court-martial...

      4. 4.As respects the review of a finding or award made...

      5. 5.In proceedings under this Act against a person subject to...

      6. 6.In the application of this Act to a person subject...

      7. 7.In relation to a person subject to air-force law as...

      8. 8.In the application of sections one hundred and forty-four and...

      9. 9.Sections one hundred and fifty to one hundred and fifty-two...

      10. 10.In this Schedule— (a) references to a person's own service...

      11. 11.In relation to officers, non-commissioned officers and marines of the...

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