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Of the countless allegations of brutality, uncovered by Surrey Police, during their investigation into the four deaths at the barracks in the nineties the Armed Forces minister was somewhat dismissive at the dispatch box today
More specifically, of the 173 allegations in the Surrey Police report, nine involved rape. But the minister said today six had been investigated and no action had been taken.
And of the other three, two had been uncorroborated, hearsay accounts and only one, a gang rape, is still under police investigation.
And of 20 victims of other serious allegations the MOD asked the police to approach, only two had been willing to take matters further.
So the minister's announcement of a review is not for his benefit but for ours.
For the father of one of the four whose deaths have opened up a Pandora’s Box of horrors at this training camp, such a review amounts to very little
Three years ago on Channel Four News one former recruit made similar allegations to the ones that have been handed over to the Defence Select Committee. She now feels the Government has failed to understand how afraid some of the alleged victims are.
The MoD is to reveal details shortly we are told about the scope and nature of the review. It is seventh inquiry into has promised.
Deepcut report reveals a litany of abuse
Shocking in the extreme: claims of rape, sexual and racial abuse. Cadets forced to swim though a cesspool and urinated on while they were asleep.
Just some of the allegations uncovered by Surrey Police in a leaked report into the training regime at Deepcut Army Barracks.
Many of the claims haven't been corroborated but if proven, they suggest systematic bullying and a clear abrogation of the Army's duty of care to young recruits.
The investigation follows the death of four young recruits between 1995 and 2002 – but the Ministry of Defence still insists there should not be a public inquiry.
Geoff Gray received the leaked report at 10.30 last night - it arrived anonymously in a brown envelope, delivered in a black cab.
It was a damning indictment of the Deepcut Barracks in Surrey where his son had died.
“This dossier … suggests there is a culture of bullying and sexual assault, there's over 100 allegations in here. This is a catalogue of misery where young children have joined the army and have been subjected to sexual and physical harrassment.”
Geoff Gray, father of Deepcut soldier
The 173 allegations are in an annexe of a Surrey Police report on the deaths of four recruits at the Deepcut Barracks.
It was sent confidentially to the Commons Defence Select Committee - but someone wanted the families to see the document.
And the list of complaints make horrific reading:
recruits made to stand outside in their boxer shorts while an Non Commissioned Officer threw darts at them
a trainee forced to swim in a cesspool
a recruit assaulted by a gang wearing respirator masks
an alleged rape - reported but ignored
a trainee urinated on by an NCO while asleep : incident reported but no action taken
one soldier struck with a locker door and hung by the ankles out of a window 40 feet off the ground
and in Annexe B of the report:
“..is aware...of a racist group called the Black Card Club who would place a card with a cross on it on the bed or locker of a recruit who was due a beating”
Surrey Police say these allegations have not been investigated and should be treated with caution.
The MOD said the Royal Military police were looking into two cases.
But they added the army rejects any suggestion there was a culture of violence, abuse and bullying at Deepcut.
So four deaths, three inquests, two police reports, the Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating the Surrey Police, the Commons Defence Select Committee is doing an inquiry - the families are giving evidence this wednesday - and still the MOD says there is no need for a public inquiry.
“They (the families) want a full judicial public inquiry into the circumstances”
Kevin McNamara MP
A Channel 4 Dispatches programme this Thursday will also reveal missed opportunities - the 2001 Haes Report for instance, a three year inquiry conducted by the army itself.
Showing they knew of problems in barracks but the author said the report was binned.
“I think it was put in the cupboard”
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Haes
And there's the Surrey police report itself rather than just the annexes.
Never seen before – with over 500 serving or ex-soldiers interviewed : there are positive accounts of life at Deepcut.
But also the allegations of rape, abuse and bullying.
A common theme, the police say, is the lack of faith the young soldiers have that they can report any problems.
And they quote from an army instruction manual dated January 2003:
“If you have a problem you have a right to speak with your troop commander … but be aware that if you find yourself in this position, the problem is more likely to be a fault with your attitude than it is with the instructors”
15 months later that section had been removed.
The families of the four young recruits who died at Deepcut have been fighting for a long time but now they say these documents do prove serious and systematic abuse - and they want the Government to acknowledge that.
Interview with Armed Services Minister Adam Ingram
Jon Snow : Isn’t it time have a proper, thoroughgoing independent inquiry?
Adam Ingram Let me read precisely what they (Surrey Police) said in terms of these allegations, because I think it's important to give balance in this discussion. What they said to me in a letter sent to me on 15th October this year, when they submitted the information which we are talking about to me, it said: "It's important to point out that to a great extent, the witness recollection is uncorroborated and untested, and thus any examples cited should be treated with necessary and appropriate caution. Many of the examples have not been formally investigated at this time, as the details were given more as background information as opposed to specific allegations". Now, I have to say to you that there are two processes involved here. One is in terms of those four tragic deaths of course relate to the coroner's inquest. There have been three inquests to date. There is still one outstanding, so there will be a public examination in relation to that last death. The other families, and I have met all of the families, have the opportunity in law to seek to reopen the other inquests, and they know this, and I understand one of the families has been considering that.
But Mr Ingram, we are not talking in a vacuum..
Jon I am trying to give balance to this.
You have read me the point in the letter, and I fully accept that, but the point would be, we might be able to leave it there and let the police continue with the investigations, if it were not for the fact that you do have the four deaths, you do have the report from Colonel Richard Haes of which nothing was done.
That’s not true.
You heard him there?
Yes, I heard him there, and that was put to me for your “Dispatches” programme. I tried to answer that, and no doubt that will hopefully be shown in an accurate way later in the week, but what happened was his report was not submitted to me. What I asked for was a very—a very authoritative in-depth study into everything that had gone on across the three services, not just in the army. I have had three reports on that. They have been published. Now, why aren’t you reporting the conclusions to those reports, because those reports find, yes, there were shortfalls, but not a perfect organisation, but what we have sought to do is identify where there are weaknesses and correct them, but to say nothing has been done is a calumny, and it’s calling into question the quality of all our training.
Minister you are a civilian and you are elected to represent the interests of the population. It’s quite clear here that there is a collision between civil society and what has been going on in a barracks
Quite clear to whom, Jon?
To you as a civilian. You have read this material and you must have been shocked by it. There is a serving woman soldier who has testified—I don’t know whether on oath or not but testified that she was forced to swim across about cesspool. She’s still serving, she’s given that testimony, what is going to be done about it?
When this information came to light on the back of the Surrey investigation, Surrey Police investigation, we have asked the Surrey police to ask everyone who has made these allegations to come forward. Only two have done so. They are not even coming forward to the police. Now, another point I was going to make when you cut me off is that we have a system of investigation in this country where there are criminal wrong-doings, and that is through the police. Now, I can understand people saying, well, if they were being intimidated and bullied within the army, they would not want the army to be investigating, but the police have primacy in this, not the army.
As you say, this matter will be aired on “Dispatches” later this week, but let me ask you a final question then, there is to be no public inquiry?
I have made it clear that we have had three in-depth studies.
Can we have a yes or no on a public inquiry?
I have explained to you that we have a coroner’s inquest, is that an inquiry yes or no? I say yes to that.
The families want an independent public inquiry
Of course they want that, but I have to balance the due
process that applies in this country against the concerns of those grieving parents.
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