Updated the procedural rules and terminology for military service complaints and restricted certain appeal-related decisions from the grievance process.

These Regulations amend the legal framework for military grievances by updating the 2015 Regulations governing service complaints.

They replace the specific role of 'appropriate officer' with the broader designation of 'appropriate person' and expand the list of excluded complaints to include decisions on whether an appeal meets valid grounds.

The instrument applies to all branches of the UK Armed Forces and mandates specific notification procedures when allegations are referred to the Armed Forces Commissioner.

Expanded the categories of Court Martial sentences eligible for leniency reviews and adjusted procedural deadlines for the Attorney General.

These Regulations expand the list of offences for which the Attorney General may refer a Court Martial sentence to the Court Martial Appeal Court on the grounds of undue leniency.

They add a wide range of sexual, terrorism-related, and modern slavery offences to the existing review framework, ensuring service justice alignment with civilian law.

Additionally, the instrument modifies procedural timelines, allowing the Attorney General an additional 14 days to apply for a review if a request is received within the final two weeks of the standard 28-day limit.

The Regulations apply to the entirety of the United Kingdom and govern the sentencing oversight of persons subject to service law.

Defined family eligibility and transferred Service Complaints Ombudsman functions to the new Armed Forces Commissioner.

These Regulations establish the legal definition of 'relevant family members' eligible to interact with the Armed Forces Commissioner and manage the transfer of functions from the Service Complaints Ombudsman to the Commissioner.

Effective 1 April 2026, the instrument replaces references to the Ombudsman with the Commissioner across existing service complaint and labor regulations, including the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000.

It applies to individuals subject to service law in the UK and their defined relatives, ensuring that pending cases and prior decisions are transitioned to the new office.

The Order increased the maximum compensation limits for miscarriages of justice payable by the Secretary of State under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the Armed Forces Act 2006.

This Order, made under the powers conferred by the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the Armed Forces Act 2006, increases the maximum financial compensation limits payable by the Secretary of State for miscarriages of justice. Specifically, it raises the limit from £1 million to £1,300,000 for severe cases involving detention of 10 years or more, and from £500,000 to £650,000 for other cases, affecting both civilian convictions (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) and Court Martial convictions, with transitional rules governing applications received before and after the Order comes into force.

Parliament approved an Order in Council extending the expiry of the Armed Forces Act 2006 from December 2025 to December 2026.

This Order, presented to His Majesty in Council and approved by both Houses of Parliament, extends the expiry date of the Armed Forces Act 2006 for a further twelve months, ensuring that the Act, which was originally due to expire on 14th December 2025, remains in force until the end of 14th December 2026, as provided for under section 382(2) of that Act.

The 2025 regulations amended the 2009 Armed Forces discharge and transfer regulations by removing information from discharge certificates and updating to gender-neutral language.

The Armed Forces (Discharge and Transfer to the Reserve Forces) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective March 24, 2025, amend the 2009 regulations.

Key changes include removing the requirement for place of enlistment and officer conduct assessment from discharge certificates and replacing gendered language with gender-neutral terms throughout the 2009 regulations.

The amendments aim to improve efficiency and ensure inclusivity.

These regulations apply to England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and British overseas territories (excluding Gibraltar).

The Armed Forces (Court Martial) (Amendment) Rules 2025 amended the 2009 rules to specify minimum ranks for court martial presidents based on the defendant's rank.

These rules amend the Armed Forces (Court Martial) Rules 2009, specifying the required rank of the president of a court martial board relative to the defendant's rank.

If the defendant is an officer of rank OF-6 or above, the president must also be OF-6 or above.

For defendants of rank OF-5 or below, the president must hold a superior rank.

The rules define OF-5 and OF-6 ranks, clarifying the president's required rank according to the defendant's, and further ensuring fairness and maintaining chain of command within the court martial system.

The changes came into effect on February 20, 2025, and apply to England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and British overseas territories (excluding Gibraltar).