Service Prosecuting Authority

{{Short description|Defence agency in the UK}}

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{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}

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The Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) is the organisation within the Ministry of Defence, responsible for consideration of cases referred to it by the Service Police and where appropriate the Military Chain of command and where necessary the directing and prosecuting of those cases at Courts Martial worldwide and in the Service Civilian Court. Furthermore, it acts as respondent in the Summary Appeal Court and represents the Crown in the Courts Martial Appeal Court (CMAC).

The authority, which is fully independent of the Military Chain of Command and acts under the superintendence of the Attorney General, was formed on 1 January 2009 by the merger of three separate prosecuting authorities: the Army Prosecuting Authority (APA) of the British Army, the Navy Prosecution Authority (NPA) of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force Prosecuting Authority (RAFPA).{{cite web|url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/relations-other-prosecuting-agencies#_Toc23257140 |title=Relations with other prosecuting agencies: Service Prosecuting Authority |publisher=Crown Prosecution Service}} The authority is headed by Jonathan Rees{{Cite web|title=Service Prosecuting Authority|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/service-prosecuting-authority|access-date=2020-12-11|website=GOV.UK|language=en}} KC, a civil servant, as Director Service Prosecutions. The Deputy Director Service Prosecutions (DDSP) was formerly a Brigadier position and is now held by a Civil Servant.

The SPA liaises with the Military Court Service, the office of the Judge Advocate General, the Attorney-General, other prosecuting authorities (including the Crown Prosecution Service), civilian solicitors, and the military and civilian police.

It is staffed by officers from all three of the UK Armed Forces and is supported by a number of civil servants who work for the Ministry of Defence. Its headquarters are at RAF Northolt in West London.{{Cite web|title=Service Prosecuting Authority|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/service-prosecuting-authority|access-date=2020-12-11|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}