Armed Forces Bill

24: After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause— ““Procedure on arrest for substance abuse, violence against the person or damage to property After section 74 of AFA 2006 insert— ““Procedure on arrest for substance abuse, violence against the person or damage to property (1) If a person subject to service law— (a) has been arrested on suspicion of committing an offence, (b) would be the person’s first offence, and (c) the offence is related to substance abuse, violence against a person or damage to property, prior to any decision as to charge, the prosecuting authority shall consider diverting the person for specialist services to assist with substance abuse and mental health treatment either in the community or through existing services in Her Majesty’s armed forces. (2) The prosecuting authority shall also commission and obtain a psychiatric assessment of the arrested person in order to assess that person’s needs and manage that person safely. (3) No decision to charge the arrested person shall be made at the time of arrest and such a decision shall take place only when the prosecuting authority has consulted the specialist services involved and reviewed the psychiatric assessment. (4) The above conditions do not apply unless, at the time of arrest, the arrested person was serving in Her Majesty’s armed forces.””””