Royal Navy will allow women to serve on submarines – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2011 in armed forces, equality, news, women by sally

“One of the last barriers to women being treated equally in the armed forces was lifted on Thursday when the Ministry of Defence announced that they will soon be allowed to serve onboard Royal Navy submarines.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministry of Defence agrees to more openness on courts martial – The Guardian

Posted December 5th, 2011 in armed forces, courts martial, freedom of information, news by sally

“Bruised by revelations of wrongdoing by British troops, the Ministry of Defence has agreed to be more transparent and provide more information about courts martial and other action taken against members of the armed forces, the Guardian has been told.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina v Lyons – WLR Daily

Posted December 5th, 2011 in armed forces, conscientious objection, human rights, law reports by sally

Regina v Lyons [2011] EWCA Crim 2808; [2011] WLR (D) 345

“A person who, having voluntarily entered military service, sought to be discharged from further service on the ground of conscientious objection was subject to the requirements of military service and military discipline until his claim had been established. The giving of notice of appeal did not justify a refusal to obey a lawful command pending the determination of the appeal.”

WLR Daily, 1st December 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Priest who witnessed Iraqi detention could face prosecution – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2011 in armed forces, clergy, Iraq, misfeasance in public office, news, torture, witnesses by sally

“The director of public prosecutions has been asked to consider bringing criminal charges against a Roman Catholic priest who was found to have witnessed the shocking condition of a group of prisoners in Iraq, which included Baha Mousa, who was tortured to death, but did nothing to raise the alarm.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Atomic Veterans Litigation – 4 New Square

“In the week commencing 14 November 2011, a seven-member panel of Justices of the Supreme Court (L Phillips, L Walker, L Hale, L Brown, L Mance, L Kerr and L Wilson) heard the Claimants’ appeal from the Court of Appeal’s decision in the Atomic Veterans Litigation (AB v Ministry of Defence [2010] EWCA Civ 1317). Argument took place over four days and judgment was reserved by the Supreme Court.”

Full story

4 New Square, 21st November 2011

Source: www.4newsquare.com

MoD’s resistance to human rights in Iraq blamed for death of Baha Mousa – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2011 in armed forces, assault, detention, human rights, Iraq, news by sally

“The army’s former chief legal adviser in Iraq has accused the Ministry of Defence of moral ambivalence and a cultural resistance to human rights that allowed British troops to abuse detainees and beat the Basra hotel worker Baha Mousa to death.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Investigation team “lacks necessary independence” for MOD ill-treatment allegations – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 23rd, 2011 in appeals, armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, judicial review, news, torture by sally

“The Court of Appeal has ruled that the Iraq Historic Allegations Team, set up to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of Iraqi detainees by members of the British armed forces, lacked the requisite independence to fulfil the investigatory obligation under Article 3 of the Convention.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd November 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Ken Clarke ditches plan to scrap chief coroner – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2011 in armed forces, bills, budgets, coroners, inquests, news by sally

“Justice secretary abandons plan to abolish post amid heavy opposition from Royal British Legion.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Iraqi civilians win inquiry appeal – The Independent

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in appeals, armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, news, torture by sally

“More than 100 Iraqi civilians have won a landmark Court of Appeal battle in their bid for a fresh public inquiry into allegations of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment made against British soldiers and interrogators in Iraq.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd November 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Armed Forces Act 2011

Posted November 4th, 2011 in armed forces, legislation by sally

Armed Forces Act 2011 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Navy Afghan war objector Michael Lyons loses appeal – BBC News

Posted October 13th, 2011 in appeals, armed forces, conscientious objection, courts martial, news, war by sally

“A Royal Navy medic who refused to attend rifle training because of his objection to the war in Afghanistan has lost an appeal against his detention.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoD ‘ignored legal advice’ over interrogation of Iraqi prisoners, claims top Army lawyer – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 13th, 2011 in armed forces, human rights, news, torture by sally

“The British Army wilfully used illegal methods of interrogation against Iraqi prisoners after military leaders ignored advice from their top lawyer, it was claimed last night.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Human rights torture challenge thrown out by High Court – BBC News

Posted October 4th, 2011 in armed forces, news, torture by sally

“The High Court has rejected an attempt by the UK’s human rights watchdog to rule guidance on torture is unlawful.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

British forces ordered to stop the hooding of terror suspects – The Independent

Posted October 4th, 2011 in armed forces, human rights, news, terrorism by sally

“The hooding of prisoners or terror suspects by Britain’s armed forces has been totally banned following a High Court judgement.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bloody Sunday compensation could open door for other payouts – The Guardian

Posted September 22nd, 2011 in armed forces, compensation, news, Northern Ireland, victims by sally

“Families of those killed on all sides during the Troubles may take up civil claims once this precedent is set.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sailor who murdered officer on submarine HMS Astute jailed for life – BBC News

Posted September 19th, 2011 in armed forces, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A Royal Navy serviceman who shot dead a senior officer on board a nuclear submarine has been jailed for life.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoD condemned for ‘insensitive’ treatment of ex-war prisoners – The Guardian

Posted September 14th, 2011 in armed forces, compensation, complaints, news, ombudsmen, parliament, prisoners of war by sally

“Parliamentary ombudsman orders department to pay family who were repeatedly refused compensation for their ordeal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Soldiers ‘must face prosecution’ – The Independent

“The British soldiers responsible for the death of Baha Mousa must face prosecution in the light of the damning public inquiry findings, lawyers for his family said.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Baha Mousa inquiry makes 73 recommendations – The Guardian

Posted September 8th, 2011 in armed forces, death in custody, inquiries, reports, torture by sally

“Asking detainees if they have any complaints about their treatment and letting prison inspectors visit battlefield holding centres were among the 73 recommendations made by the Baha Mousa inquiry chairman, Sir William Gage.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

“Corporate failure by MoD” finds Baha Mousa inquiry – UK Human Rights Blog

“The 1,400 page final report on the inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa has been published today after three years of hearings. The chairman of the inquiry, retired Court of Appeal judge Sir William Gage, has condemned members of the 1st Battalion The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment for their ‘lack of moral courage’ to report abuse and the use of banned interrogation after Mousa died of 93 injuries in British army custody in Basra in 2003.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 8th September 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Related link: The Report of the Baha Mousa Inquiry