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Armed Forces Bill

Let me explain what currently happens. The clause will not prevent any service police from consulting the CO about the case in deciding whether there is sufficient evidence of an offence before sending the case to the director of service prosecutions. Where the service context is relevant to whether an offence has been committed, the service police not only may, but should, ensure that they understand that context. However, if they decide that there is sufficient evidence, the CO should not be able to stop the DSP considering the case. I have tried to answer as many of the detailed points about the clause as I possibly can. Obviously, I will review Hansard tomorrow, and if I can help hon. Members further when I have looked at it, I will. With those assurances, I vainly attempt to reassure the hon. Member for Aldershot that the clause is not worth dividing the Committee.