Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Armed Forces (Service Complaints) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 3rd November 2026.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the British Overseas Territories except Gibraltar.

(3) In these Regulations, “ the 2015 Regulations ” means the Armed Forces (Service Complaints) Regulations 2015 ( 2 ).

Amendment of the 2015 Regulations

2.—(1) The 2015 Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), for “officer”, in both places it occurs, substitute “person”.

(3) In regulation 3 (specified officer)—

(a)in the heading, for “specified officer” substitute “specified person”;

(b)in paragraph (1), for “specified officer is an officer” substitute “specified person is a person”;

(c)in paragraph 2—

(i)for “the officer” substitute “the person”;

(ii)for “specified officer”, in both places it occurs, substitute “specified person”;

(iii)for “an officer” substitute “a person”.

(4) In regulation 4(1) (procedure for making a service complaint), for “officer” substitute “person”.

(5) In regulation 5 (action on receipt of a service complaint and admissibility), for “officer”, in each place it occurs, substitute “person”.

(6) In regulation 6 (period for making a service complaint and power to stay)—

(a)in paragraphs (3) and (7), for “person”, in each place it occurs, substitute “complainant”;

(b)in paragraphs (3), (6) and (7) for “specified officer”, in each place it occurs, substitute “specified person”.

(7) In regulation 7 (Commissioner’s review of admissibility)—

(a)for “officer’s”, in both places it occurs, substitute “person’s”;

(b)for “officer”, in both places it occurs, substitute “person”.

(8) In regulation 8 (application of these regulations where further matters raised by way of complaint), for “officer” substitute “person”.

(9) In regulation 9(1) (decisions on a service complaint), for “officer” substitute “person”.

Transitional Provisions

3.—(1) For the purposes of regulation 5 of the 2015 Regulations, where a statement of complaint was received by the specified officer before 3rd November 2026, it is to be treated as having been received by the specified person.

(2) For the purposes of regulation 7 of the 2015 Regulations, any decision made by the specified officer before 3rd November 2026 that a service complaint is not admissible is to be treated as a decision made by the specified person.

(3) In this regulation, “ specified officer ” has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the 2015 Regulations as they had effect immediately before the date on which these regulations come into force.