Civil offence

Not to be confused with Civil wrong or Municipal offense.

Civil offence was a term of art in military law in the United Kingdom.

In the Army Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2. c. 18) and the Air Force Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2. c. 19), the expression "civil offence" meant any act or omission punishable by the law of England or which, if committed in England, would be punishable by that law.[1][2]

As to this definition, see Cox v Army Council [1963] AC 48, HL.

Section 42(1) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c. 53) defined a civil offence as "any act or omission which is punishable by the law of England or would be so punishable if committed in England."[3]

See now the offence of "criminal conduct" under section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006.

It is a misnomer to describe a civil wrong as a "civil offence".[4]

  1. ^ The Army Act 1955, section 70(2)
  2. ^ The Air Force Act 1955, section 70(2)
  3. ^ The Naval Discipline Act 1957, Section 42(1)
  4. ^ Williams, G.L., (1982). "Learning the Law", 11th Ed., London : Stevens, ISBN 0-420-46290-2, p. 4