Army Prosecuting Authority
Encyclopedia
The Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) is the organisation within the Ministry of Defence
, responsible for consideration of cases referred to it by the Service Police and where appropriate the Military Chain of Command and where necessary the directing and prosecuting of those cases at Courts Martial worldwide and in the Service Civilian Court. Furthermore it acts as respondent in the Summary Appeal Court and represents the Crown in the Courts Martial Appeal Court (CMAC).
The authority is fully independent of the Military Chain of Command and acts under the superintendence of the Attorney General. It was formed on 1 January 2009 by the merger of the separate prosecuting authorities of the British Army
, Royal Navy
and Royal Air Force
and is headed by Bruce Houlder QC
, a civil servant, as Director Service Prosecutions, and Brigadier Philip McEvoy, an Officer of the Army Legal Services who is Deputy Director Service Prosecutions.
The SPA liaises with the Military Court Service, the office of the Judge Advocate General, the Attorney-General
, other prosecuting authorities (including the Crown Prosecution Service
), civilian solicitor
s, and the military and civilian police
.
It is staffed by Officers from all three of the UK Armed Forces and is supported by a number of Civil Servants who work for the Ministry of Defence. It's Headquarters are at RAF Northolt in North West London along side the UK Office of the Organisation, there is also an office in Bielefeld, Germany
, the separate prosecution authorities of HM Armed Forces were merged to form the tri-service Service Prosecuting Authority. On 1 January 2009, the individual authorities were placed under the leadership of one Director as the newly combined authority took effect.
In 2010 the authority moved from Hillingdon House
in RAF Uxbridge
to a newly built headquarters in RAF Northolt
.
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, responsible for consideration of cases referred to it by the Service Police and where appropriate the Military Chain of Command and where necessary the directing and prosecuting of those cases at Courts Martial worldwide and in the Service Civilian Court. Furthermore it acts as respondent in the Summary Appeal Court and represents the Crown in the Courts Martial Appeal Court (CMAC).
The authority is fully independent of the Military Chain of Command and acts under the superintendence of the Attorney General. It was formed on 1 January 2009 by the merger of the separate prosecuting authorities of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and is headed by Bruce Houlder QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, a civil servant, as Director Service Prosecutions, and Brigadier Philip McEvoy, an Officer of the Army Legal Services who is Deputy Director Service Prosecutions.
The SPA liaises with the Military Court Service, the office of the Judge Advocate General, the Attorney-General
Attorney General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
, other prosecuting authorities (including the Crown Prosecution Service
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. Its role is similar to that of the longer-established Crown Office in Scotland, and the...
), civilian solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
s, and the military and civilian police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
.
It is staffed by Officers from all three of the UK Armed Forces and is supported by a number of Civil Servants who work for the Ministry of Defence. It's Headquarters are at RAF Northolt in North West London along side the UK Office of the Organisation, there is also an office in Bielefeld, Germany
History
As part of the Armed Forces Act 2006Armed Forces Act 2006
The Armed Forces Act 2006 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.It came into force on 31 October 2009. It replaces the three separate Service Discipline Acts as the system of military law under which the British Armed Forces operate...
, the separate prosecution authorities of HM Armed Forces were merged to form the tri-service Service Prosecuting Authority. On 1 January 2009, the individual authorities were placed under the leadership of one Director as the newly combined authority took effect.
In 2010 the authority moved from Hillingdon House
Hillingdon House
Hillingdon House is a Grade II listed mansion in Hillingdon, Greater London. The original house was built in 1717 as a hunting lodge for the Duke of Schomberg. It was destroyed by fire and the present house was built in its place in 1844....
in RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge was a Royal Air Force station in Uxbridge within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its grounds covered originally belonging to the Hillingdon House estate, which was purchased by the British Government in 1915, three years before the founding of the RAF...
to a newly built headquarters in RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
.