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.

Activated new service complaint procedures and technical terminology changes within the Armed Forces on 3 November 2026.

These Regulations bring specific provisions of the Armed Forces Commissioner Act 2025 into legal force on 3 November 2026.

The instrument activates Section 3 and the remaining parts of Schedule 2 of the Act, which collectively update the procedural framework for service complaints within the military.

The changes apply to the Ministry of Defence and service personnel, specifically altering the designations of individuals authorized to handle formal grievances.

Updated the Ministry of Defence Police disciplinary code to mandate dismissal for gross misconduct and simplified performance management into a two-stage process.

These Regulations amend the disciplinary, performance, and appeals framework for the Ministry of Defence Police to align with standards used by territorial police forces.

The instrument mandates that conduct resulting in a conviction for an indictable-only offence constitutes gross misconduct and requires dismissal without notice for gross misconduct findings unless exceptional circumstances exist.

It applies to all Ministry of Defence Police officers, former officers, and relevant authorities, streamlining performance procedures from three stages to two and authorizing the use of electronic communication for legal notices.

Established the procedures for maintaining, publishing, and removing names from the Ministry of Defence Police barred and advisory lists.

These Regulations establish the administrative and legal framework for the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) barred and advisory lists as required by the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

They direct the Secretary of State to maintain records of MDP constables who have been dismissed for misconduct or performance issues, and those who resign or retire while under investigation.

The regulations apply to the Secretary of State, the Ministry of Defence Police, and individuals formerly employed by the MDP, mandating the publication of certain barred individuals' details while providing mechanisms for removal from these lists based on time, death, or successful appeal.

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.

The Armed Forces (Pension and Compensation on Termination of Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 amended the existing UK regulations governing pensions and compensation upon service termination for Armed Forces personnel.

These 2022 Regulations amend the principal Regulations concerning pensions and compensation payable to members of the Armed Forces upon the termination of their service, detailing specific changes to the existing legal framework governing these payments.

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 Secretary of State designated numerous military vessels as protected under the 1986 Act, established new controlled sites, extended existing protected zones, and revoked the previous 2019 designation Order.

This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State, exercises powers under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 to formally designate specific sunken military vessels and define surrounding maritime areas as 'controlled sites,' thereby applying legal protection against disturbance to these remains; it names numerous additional vessels for designation, extends the protected radii for certain existing sites, and revokes the previous designation Order from 2019.