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TheService Prosecuting Authority (SPA) is the organisation within theMinistry of Defence, responsible for consideration of cases referred to it by the Service Police and where appropriate the militarychain 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 theAttorney General, was formed on 1 January 2009 by the merger of three separate prosecuting authorities: theArmy Prosecuting Authority (APA) of theBritish Army, theNavy Prosecution Authority (NPA) of theRoyal Navy and theRoyal Air Force Prosecuting Authority (RAFPA).[1] The authority is headed by Mary Cowe[2], acivil servant, as Director Service Prosecutions. The Deputy Director Service Prosecutions (DDSP) was formerly a Civil Servant position and is now held by a Royal Navy Commodore.
The SPA liaises with the Military Court Service, the office of theJudge Advocate General, theAttorney-General, other prosecuting authorities (including theCrown Prosecution Service), civiliansolicitors, and the military and civilianpolice.
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 atRAF Northolt in WestLondon.[2]
As part of theArmed Forces Act 2006, the separate prosecution authorities ofHM Armed Forces were merged to form the tri-service Service Prosecuting Authority. On 1 January 2009, the individual authorities were placed under the leadership of one Director as the newly combined authority took effect.[3]
In 2010 the authority moved fromHillingdon House inRAF Uxbridge to a newly built headquarters inRAF Northolt.[4]
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