On the article in the telegraph they seem to suggest that all descretion was removed since April 2011 how true is this? My thinking was it was there till recently ie 09 July 2012
The punishment was imposed at a military summary hearing in the CO’s office lasting ten minutes. L/Cpl Baleiwai had no legal representation.
No witnesses were called and he was not told that five other soldiers were prepared to testify that he had acted in self-defence.
However, for immigration purposes, a military summary punishment counts the same as a criminal conviction in a civilian court, disqualifying the applicant from citizenship.
I am not sure if this only applies to citizenship an not other forms of cases that might require show of discretion.
Under the old rules, discretion was allowed and would almost certainly have been granted for such a minor, non-criminal offence.
However, since April last year all discretion has been removed and anyone with any offence whatever must be refused.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... ation.html Full story
