Was it lawful for UK forces to kill British Isis fighters in Syria? – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2015 in armed forces, international law, news, self-defence, terrorism by sally

‘On the facts as we know them, this unprecedented attack on British would-be terrorists appears to be within the law.’

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The Guardian, 7th September 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Who, What, Why: When is it legal to kill your own citizens? – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2015 in armed forces, international law, news, self-defence, terrorism, United Nations by sally

‘Two British jihadists from the Islamic State group were killed by a RAF drone strike in Syria. What’s the legal status of the attack?’

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BBC News, 8th September 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chilcot inquiry: families back legal action to speed release of Iraq inquiry – The Guardian

Posted August 28th, 2015 in armed forces, delay, inquiries, Iraq, judicial review, news, reports by sally

‘Lawyers for families who lost relatives in the Iraq war are pushing ahead with legal action aimed at forcing the chair of the inquiry, Sir John Chilcot, to set a timetable for publication of his long-delayed report. The issue could be in court within weeks.’

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The Guardian, 27th August 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chilcot defends long-delayed Iraq inquiry – but sets no date for publication – The Guardian

Posted August 27th, 2015 in armed forces, delay, inquiries, Iraq, news, reports by sally

‘Sir John Chilcot mounted a robust defence of his embattled Iraq war inquiry, prompting families of those who lost relatives in the conflict to make a renewed threat of legal action to accelerate its publication.’

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The Guardian, 26th August 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chilcot and his team confirm they have no plans to abandon inquiry into Iraq war – The Independent

Posted August 21st, 2015 in armed forces, delay, inquiries, Iraq, news by sally

‘Sir John Chilcot and his team have no plans to abandon their examination of the war in Iraq, they insisted, after The Independent revealed the inquiry panel had discussed resigning en masse in protest against the pressure it has been put under to speed up publication.’

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The Independent, 20th August 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Round-up: Controversy over the Courts Charge and Serdar Mohammed – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Howard League for Penal Reform has called for a review of the “unfair and unrealistic” Criminal Courts Charge, which “ penalises the poor and encourages the innocent to plead guilty”. The mandatory charge of up to £1,200 is imposed on those who admit committing minor misdemeanours, regardless of their circumstances.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 10th August 2015

Sorce: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Chilcot inquiry: soldiers’ families threaten legal action over delay – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2015 in armed forces, delay, inquiries, Iraq, judicial review, news, reports by sally

‘Families of soldiers killed during the Iraq war have have threatened legal action over the long-awaited Chilcot inquiry into the conflict if the report is not published by the end of the year.’
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The Guardian, 13th August 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The legal fog of war among the people – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 6th, 2015 in appeals, armed forces, detention, human rights, international law, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has held that UK armed forces breached both Afghan law and Article 5 of the ECHR by detaining a suspected Taliban commander for longer than the 96 hours permitted by ISAF policy.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 5th August 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Regina (Child Soldiers International) v Secretary of State for Defence – WLR Daily

Posted August 4th, 2015 in age discrimination, armed forces, EC law, equality, law reports, news, regulations by sally

Regina (Child Soldiers International) v Secretary of State for Defence [2015] EWHC 2183 (Admin); [2015] WLR (D) 343

‘Article 3(4) of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation gave member states an unqualified and unrestricted power not to apply the Directive to the armed forces, so that the terms of the Army Terms of Service Regulations 2007 were not incompatible with equal treatment under the Directive.’

WLR Daily, 24th July 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Did MoD owe marine duty of care? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 4th, 2015 in armed forces, duty of care, news, personal injuries by sally

‘Spencer Vaughan was a Royal Marine taking part in an adventure training exercise in Gran Canaria. On the last day of the trip, his supervisor, Corporal Sanders told Spencer and his colleagues that they were free to do what they wanted until about 1.30pm. While visiting a tourist beach, Vaughan executed a shallow dive into the sea. At trial, he said that he had struck a sand bar. As a result he sustained a fracture of the cervical spine, which resulted in incomplete tetraplegia.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd August 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Billet v Ministry of Defence– Ogden Tables Revisited – Zenith PI Blog

‘In 2009, the Claimant had been in the army and his role was as a HGV driver. He had been taking part in a field exercise in freezing weather and snow for six days having been provided with unsatisfactory footwear. The Claimant suffered a non-freezing cold injury to his feet. Despite treatment he still suffered symptoms in cold weather but was assessed as fit for service. The Claimant obtained an early termination of military service in 2011 because of family commitments. Due to the ongoing symptoms in his feet he issued a claim for damages against the MOD. Liability was agreed at 75% but the parties could not agree quantum.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 31st July 2015

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

British forces illegally detained Afghan suspect, court of appeal rules – The Guardian

‘An Afghan suspect was detained illegally by British forces for almost four months and denied access to a lawyer, the court of appeal has ruled. Serdar Mohammed, who was captured by UK soldiers in April 2010, was not handed over to the Afghan security services until July that year, despite regulations requiring any transfer to take place within 96 hours. Mohammed, who was eventually released earlier this year to return to his home in Helmand province, claimed that the Afghan authorities tortured him.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

SAS selection deaths: Coroner delivers neglect conclusion – BBC News

Posted July 14th, 2015 in armed forces, inquests, negligence, news by sally

‘Three reservists who died on an SAS selection march would have survived if the hike had been stopped when other soldiers fell ill, a coroner has said.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Army head condemns ‘unacceptable’ sexual harassment – BBC News

Posted July 13th, 2015 in armed forces, complaints, harassment, news, sexual offences, statistics, women by sally

‘Army chief General Sir Nick Carter says the level of sexual harassment being faced by female soldiers is “totally unacceptable”. In a survey commissioned by the Army, almost 40% of servicewomen said they had received unwanted comments of a sexual nature in the past year.’

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BBC News, 12th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Royal Household will fall in sights of £100m child sex abuse inquiry – Daily Telegraph

‘The child sex abuse inquiry is set to last five years and cost up to £100 million, it has been confirmed, as it emerged the Royal Household will not be exempt from scrutiny over paedophile allegations.’

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Daily Telegraph, 9th July 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK court rejects Afghan interpreters’ discrimination claims – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2015 in appeals, armed forces, employment, interpreters, news, race discrimination by sally

‘Former local interpreters who risked their lives working for the British military in Afghanistan have lost their high court challenge to a government assistance scheme they say unlawfully discriminates against them.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Coroner in SAS inquest blocks release of witness statements – The Guardian

‘A coroner hearing the inquest of three men who suffered fatal heat illness during an SAS training march in south Wales has refused to allow the release of witness statements, concluding that their publication could threaten any future criminal prosecutions. The Guardian and other media organisations argued that in the interest of open justice, statements taken by detectives investigating the tragedy on the Brecon Beacons and provided to the inquest should be released to allow the proceedings to be reported fully.’

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The Guardian, 19th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chagos islanders go to supreme court in battle to be allowed home – The Guardian

‘Former residents of the Chagos Islands who were forcibly removed from their homeland more than 40 years ago will take their long legal battle to the UK’s highest court on Monday.’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

SAS deaths: criminal charges may follow inquest – The Guardian

Posted June 18th, 2015 in armed forces, crime, health & safety, inquests, news, police, prosecutions, witnesses by sally

‘Police and health and safety lawyers argue against media attempt to see witness statements in case they prejudice future prosecutions.’

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The Guardian, 17th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoD secretary Yasmin Disney jailed for £100k fraud – The Independent

Posted June 10th, 2015 in armed forces, expenses, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

‘A former MoD secretary who submitted £100,000 in false expenses to buy a sports car and luxury holidays has been jailed for her “spree of dishonesty”.’

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The Independent, 10th June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk