British Army soldier convicted of sexually assaulting colleague on night out – The Independent

Posted November 17th, 2022 in armed forces, courts martial, harassment, news, sexual offences by tracey

‘A British Army soldier has been convicted of sexually assaulting a colleague after he groped her breast and slid his hand up her skirt during a night out.’

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The Independent, 16th November 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Eight in 10 rape charges tried by UK military courts end without conviction – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2022 in armed forces, courts martial, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, statistics by sally

‘A scandal over sexual abuse in the submarine service has deepened as it emerged that eight in 10 rape charges tried by a military court martial over the past three years ended without conviction.’

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The Guardian, 2nd November 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sex offenders being freed from UK military jail without any probation supervision, report warns – The Independent

‘Sex offenders and domestic abusers are being freed from the UK’s military jail “without any safeguards or probation supervision”, inspectors have warned.’

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The Independent, 5th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Navy rape survivor backs civilian court trials for serious offences – BBC News

‘A member of the Royal Navy, whose rape case collapsed in a military court, has backed calls for serious offences committed in the UK to be investigated and tried through civilian courts.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoD overhauls rules for investigating sexual offences in armed forces – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2021 in armed forces, courts martial, inquiries, news, sexual offences by sally

‘Complaint of sexual offences in the armed forces will be dealt with outside the chain of command in future – but military police will retain the right to investigate allegations of rape, the Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Senior army officer convicted of £48,000 Dorset boarding school fee fraud – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2021 in armed forces, courts martial, families, fraud, news, school children by tracey

‘A senior army officer has been found guilty of dishonestly claiming almost £50,000 in allowances to pay for his children’s boarding school fees. Maj Gen Nick Welch, who is believed to be the most senior officer to face court martial since 1815, was convicted of fraud following a four-week trial at Bulford military court in Wiltshire. He is due to be sentenced on Friday.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge calls for rape law review after clearing Army major ‘too drunk to remember sex’ – Daily Telegrph

Posted August 13th, 2020 in alcohol abuse, armed forces, courts martial, news, rape by sally

‘Parliament should review the law around rape cases where neither party can remember having sex, a military judge has suggested after clearing an Army major of attacking a female Captain.’

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Daily Telegraph, 12th August 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Service Justice System under question regarding the continuation of the jurisdiction to investigate and conduct trials in serious sexual assault and rape cases – Thomas More Chambers

‘The Centre for Military Justice, acting on behalf of three female service personnel has sent a pre – action protocol letter to the Ministry of Defence with regard to three cases which the service justice system (SJS) has conducted and their assertion appears to be that these victims were discriminated against. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) response is due this week. We have not seen the letter nor do we expect to see the response. The Centre for Military Justice stating publicly that by the end of the month they will issue proceedings in the High Court for Judicial Review (JR) citing action for discrimination under both the Human Rights Act and Equality Act. We await sight of the claim and then the defence.’

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Thomas More Chambers, 14th May 2020

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

The Service Justice System under question regarding the continuation of the jurisdiction to investigate and conduct trials in serious sexual assault and rape cases – Thomas More Chambers

‘The Centre for Military Justice, acting on behalf of three female service personnel has sent a pre – action protocol letter to the Ministry of Defence with regard to three cases which the service justice system (SJS) has conducted and their assertion appears to be that these victims were discriminated against. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) response is due this week. We have not seen the letter nor do we expect to see the response. The Centre for Military Justice stating publicly that by the end of the month they will issue proceedings in the High Court for Judicial Review (JR) citing action for discrimination under both the Human Rights Act and Equality Act. We await sight of the claim and then the defence.’

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Thomas More Chambers, 14th May 2020

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

Women launch legal action to stop military courts trying UK rape cases – The Guardian

‘Three women serving in the armed forces have begun legal action aimed at preventing the military courts from trying UK rape cases, complaining that the conviction rate is five to six times lower than in civilian courts.’

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Racism in UK military: only six people found guilty at court martial in past five years – The Guardian

‘Just over 17% of racially aggravated crimes investigated by military police over the past five years resulted in guilty verdicts at court martial, it has emerged, as the armed forces faces new pressure over claims it is failing black and Asian service personnel.’

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The Guardian, 7th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dozens of army instructors have been ‘accused of abusing recruits since 2015’, new figures reveal – Daily Telegraph

‘More than 100 Army instructors have been court-martialled or disciplined in the last four years for offences including abusing recruits, it has been reported.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd June 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Brecon Beacons SAS deaths: Call for MoD to face courts – BBC News

Posted September 20th, 2018 in armed forces, courts martial, criminal justice, immunity, negligence, news, prosecutions by tracey

‘The Ministry of Defence has not learned lessons from the deaths of three men on an SAS march and should lose its immunity from prosecution, an MP says.’

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BBC News, 19th September 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pair face court martial over three deaths on SAS test march – The Guardian

Posted September 4th, 2018 in armed forces, courts martial, duty of care, health & safety, news by sally

‘A major in the British army and a former officer are facing trial by court martial over the deaths of three men who suffered fatal heat illness during an SAS test march in the Brecon Beacons in south Wales.’

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The Guardian, 3rd September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Michael Maguire death: Army captain guilty of manslaughter – BBC News

Posted July 5th, 2018 in armed forces, courts martial, firearms, homicide, negligence, news by tracey

‘An Army captain has been convicted of gross negligence manslaughter at a court martial after a soldier was killed during a live fire exercise.’

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BBC News, 4th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Soldiers convicted of sex attacks and violent offences being released without supervision, report warns – The Independent

‘Soldiers convicted of sex attacks and violent offences are being released without any supervision because of a loophole in the law, a report has found. HM Inspectorate of Prisons said the public were not being protected by processes at the UK’s only military detention centre, which operates independently of the normal probation system.’

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The Independent, 1st March 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Brecon Beacons deaths: families dismayed at junior officers’ charges – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2017 in armed forces, courts martial, health & safety, inquests, negligence, news by tracey

‘The families of three men who suffered fatal heat illness during an SAS training march in the Brecon Beacons have expressed dismay that two relatively junior special services soldiers face charges of neglect rather than more senior figures or Ministry of Defence officials.’

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The Guardian, 2nd November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Marine A to be resentenced over fatal shooting of Taliban fighter – Daily Telegraph

‘Royal Marine who is in prison for the fatal shooting of a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan finds out today if he is to be freed or must serve more time behind bars.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th March 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Marine Alexander Blackman conviction reduced to manslaughter – BBC News

‘A Royal Marine jailed for shooting an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan has had his murder conviction reduced to manslaughter by an appeal court.’

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BBC News, 15th March 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judges reject media request to release marine shooting video – The Guardian

‘Three of the UK’s most senior judges have rejected a request by the Guardian and other media organisations to sanction the release of video footage showing a British Royal Marine shooting dead a wounded Taliban fighter.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk