Ministers to propose a ban on ‘witch hunts’ to protect British troops under new laws
Police and prosecutors will be required to treat historical cases with "proportionality"
POLICE and prosecutors will be banned from turning investigations of British troops in Northern Ireland into a “witch hunt” under new laws.
Ministers are currently working on legislation which would require authorities to treat historical cases with “proportionality”.
The draft proposals include an upper age limit on who could be investigated, a five year time limit on how long an inquiry can last and a limit on maximum sentences for those found guilty.
The Bill is expected to state that since 90 per cent of killings in the Troubles were by terrorists, not soldiers, that is where 90 per cent of funds to investigate cases should be spent.
Ministers are determined to stop troops facing another taxpayer-funded witch hunt after the Iraq. Historical Allegations Team dredged up more than 3,000 claims of wrongdoing in the Gulf War.
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A senior Whitehall source said: “They’ve been pushing hard on this. We will not allow Northern Ireland to become another Ihat.”
The Legacy Investigation Branch is ready to examine 302 deaths dating back 40 years or more. Up to 1,000 ex soldiers in their 60s and 70s could face investigation.