Under pressure Ministry of Defence will transform the way it investigates possible war crimes
THE Ministry of Defence has caved in to pressure to transform the way it probes possible war crimes.
A judge will consider if military police have the skills for war zone investigations.
Shoddy internal probes in Iraq and Afghanistan left troops exposed to lawyer-led witch-hunts because the military acquittals were considered unreliable in civilian courts.
Sources said Red Caps were ill-equipped to cope with complex probes in conflict zones.
The MoD said the judge-led inquiry “will consider whether we have the skills and processes in place for all elements of the investigative process”.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Credible allegations must be investigated quickly and efficiently. This review will help future-proof investigations and provide greater certainty to both victims and service personnel.”
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer called for the review in June.
But Labour's shadow defence secretary John Healey said it was the fourth in five years and there were already 100 recommendations for the MoD to act on.
He said: “It is hard to take the defence secretary seriously.”
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