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Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971

Offences - Offences involving guard duty, violence, and insubordination

42: Cruel or disgraceful conduct

You could also call this:

"Being cruel to people or animals is against the law"

Illustration for Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971

You can commit an offence if you behave in a cruel way towards someone or an animal. This includes animals used by the Armed Forces or kept in captivity. You can also commit an offence if you behave in a disgraceful and indecent manner.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM402718.

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Crime and justice > Criminal lawAnimal welfare > Animal protectionHealth and wellbeing > Public health
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41: Ill-treatment of person of lower rank, or

"Being mean or violent to someone with a lower rank is against the law"

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43: Fighting or causing a disturbance, or

"Fighting or causing trouble is against the rules and can lead to imprisonment."

Part 2Offences
Offences involving guard duty, violence, and insubordination

42Cruel or disgraceful conduct

  1. Every person subject to this Act commits an offence, and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, who—

  2. behaves in a cruel manner towards any person, or any animal used for the purposes of the Armed Forces or kept in a state of captivity; or
    1. behaves in a disgraceful and indecent manner.