(1) When any person subject to this Act has been convicted by a Security Force Court of any offence, such Security Force Court may inquire into, and receive, and record evidence of any previous convictions of such person, either by a Security Force Court or by a criminal court, or any previous award of punishment under section 53 or 55, and may further inquire into and record the general character of such person and such other matters as may be prescribed.
     (2) Evidence received under this section may be either oral, or in the shape of entries in, or certified extracts from, books of Security Force Courts or other official records; and it shall not be necessary to give notice before trial to the person tried that evidence as to his previous convictions or character will be received.
     (3) At a Summary Security Force Court, the officer holding the trial may, if he thinks fit, record any previous convictions against the offender, his general character, and such other matters as may be prescribed, as of his own knowledge, instead of requiring them to be proved under the foregoing provisions of this section.