Welcome to Armed Forces Law

armedforceslaw.co.uk is a division and a trading name of falselyaccused.co.uk. Our aim is to assist HM Armed Forces personnel with their own Courts-Martial and Military Disciplinary process.

Military Judicial System

The military judicial system is headed by the Judge Advocate General who is a civilian and part of the Ministry of Justice.

Courts-Martial specifically are based upon the civilian Criminal Crown Court regime and the conduct of Armed Services investigators follows guidelines and gives rights similar to those contained in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

In addition to offences of a Military nature Services personnel can also be subject to prosecution for civilian criminal offences by way of Courts-Martial.

Administrative procedures enable a service man or women to be discharged for unsatisfactory behaviour in a process similar to that in the civilian sector. They also allow a superior of any rank to award up to three extra duties or similar to a subordinate for minor infractions. Since being introduced this has significantly reduced the number of cases dealt with summarily.

Summary dealing by a Commanding Officer (CO) is the central feature; this is acceptable within the ECHR because an accused always has the right to elect trial by the Court Martial. Most cases are dealt with summarily. Typically a CO is a Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent (NATO grade OF-4), but a CO may delegate some powers of summary dealing to a subordinate. The superior officer of a CO, a Higher Authority, may vary a CO's powers of summary dealing. An implication is that every person subject to service law must have a CO, and a CO must have a Higher Authority.

It is therefore important that whoever represents personnel is not only conversant within the Criminal process in the Armed Services but is also experienced in the civilian Criminal Justice system.

Armedforceslaw.co.uk has close links to specialist Solicitors and Counsel who have considerable experience in the Courts-Martial.

Should you find yourself or those in your care facing arrest, interview or investigation for a criminal offence or require advice or representation in connection with Courts-Martial do not wait - potential evidence can be lost through delay.

If you are accused of a criminal offence and you are to be arrested and interviewed you having the same rights as a civilian so are entitled to ask for a legal representative.