Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt announces consultation on legal protection for soldiers

Defence secretary Penny Mordaunt in Downing Street, London. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA WireDefence secretary Penny Mordaunt in Downing Street, London. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA Wire
Defence secretary Penny Mordaunt in Downing Street, London. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA Wire
THE defence secretary has announced a consultation process in response to demands for legislation to end repeated investigations into alleged historical offences by British troops.

Penny Mordaunt, who is the MP for Portsmouth North, said the 12-week consultation process would give greater legal protection to serving or former personnel accused of committing offences abroad.

She wrote in the Daily Mail that just as Britain treasures veterans of older conflicts, so too it must support those that have served in recent campaigns including Afghanistan and Iraq.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ms Mordaunt said: ‘They also never thought twice about giving their all for us. We owe them a huge debt as well. They had our backs. We must have theirs.’ 

Defence secretary Penny Mordaunt in Downing Street, London. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA WireDefence secretary Penny Mordaunt in Downing Street, London. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA Wire
Defence secretary Penny Mordaunt in Downing Street, London. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA Wire
Read More
Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt proposes new law to protect British troops from...

The Portsmouth North MP added that the Government ‘must address the spectre of investigations into historic allegations. Veterans and serving personnel alike have been hounded by processes often not motivated by the pursuit of justice.’

The minister said she has made it a personal priority to provide veterans with better support and stronger legal safeguards.

Ms Mordaunt acknowledged there are occasional cases where serving personnel have committed offences, adding: ‘Such individuals should not escape justice.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Defence Secretary's proposals apply to operations overseas, but she acknowledged significant concern about those who served in Northern Ireland.

She said the Government's obligations to those veterans was the same.

News you can trust since 1877
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice