Joint Services Publication (JSP) 830 - Manual of Service Law (MSL)

Manual of Service Law Version 1.0 October 2009

This manual replaces The Manual of Naval Law, the Manual of Military Law and the Manual of Air Force Law. It is a guide to the legislation and subordinate legislation which was introduced in the Armed Forces Act 2006 it was fully implemented 31 October 2009. It should be noted that while Volumes 1 and 2 contain policy and guidance on the law it is not an authoritative document in the strict legal sense.

Volume 1:
This volume covers the Service discipline system generally and includes a wide range of matters such as jurisdiction, arrest, custody, investigations, charging and mode of trial, summary hearing, review and appeal.. This volume is intended to provide guidance to those involved in decision making and the administration of discipline at unit level. There are other matters provided for in the Armed Forces Act 2006 that are closely associated with but not wholly contained within the Service discipline system. Areas such as redress of individual grievance, Service Inquiries, alcohol and substance misuse and testing, management of personnel within Service custody and the protection of children are provided for in separate Joint Service Publications (JSPs), which provide comprehensive guidance. The main provisions relating to these matters are summarised in this volume with signposts to the relevant JSP. Links to these JSPs can be found under related pages on the right hand side of this page.

Volume 2:
This volume covers matters pertaining to the Service Courts including the Court Martial, the Service Civilian Court and the Summary Appeal Court. It is intended to provide guidance to legal advisers and the staff of the Military Court Service who administer proceedings before these Courts.

Volume 3:
Volume 3 contains the Act and the underpinning secondary legislation, as well as other allied legislation and source material, which will be useful to legal professionals.