British troops and veterans to be given stronger protection against prosecution

British troops facing investigation over alleged offences in the past will be given stronger legal protections, the new Defence Secretary announced today.

Penny Mordaunt said a new law will give them protection against investigations into their actions on foreign battlefields if ten years has elapsed, something that could protect soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq.

She said she wanted to prevent what she said were “repeated or unfair investigations” except in “exceptional circumstances”.