Why are civilians accompanying British armed forces abroad sometimes subject to service law?

Under British military law, civilians who accompany armed forces stationed in a foreign country—including the families of soldiers and civilians employed by or working with the services—are subject to service law to ensure the maintenance of good order within the military community.1

This jurisdiction is applied because these individuals are integrated into the service environment abroad, where the military commander must maintain discipline and efficiency. By holding these civilians accountable for offenses against the good order of the military community, the law ensures that the conduct of those associated with the armed forces does not undermine the operational integrity or the standards required of the force while stationed outside of their home country.12