John Healey responds to announcement of new review into service police investigations and prosecutions

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, commenting on today's announcement by the Defence Secretary of a new review into service police investigations and prosecutions, said:

“It is hard to take the Defence Secretary seriously. Over the last five years, the Government has done four reviews with almost 100 recommendations on Armed Forces investigations and prosecutions.

"Faced with growing criticism of their Overseas Operations Bill, the Government has launched another review rather than rethinking the legislation.

"Ministers should instead work with Labour, and organisations including the British Legion and Liberty, to improve the Bill so it better protects British troops and our reputation for adhering to international law.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. Service Justice System Review Part 1 (Published 2018) contains 16 recommendations:
   
   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/918867/SJS_Review_Part_1_Report_for_publication__accessible_.pdf
2. Service Justice System Policing Review Part 1 (Published 2020) contains 24 recommendations:
   
   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/918869/SJS_Part_1_Policing_Review_for_publication__accessible_.pdf
3. Service Justice System Review Part 2 (Published 2019) contains 44 recommendations
   
   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/918850/SJS_Review_Part_2_Report_for_publication__accessible_.pdf
   
4. Vice Chief of the Defence Staff study into Service Policing (2015) was not published publicly but is referenced in SJSPR Part 1: P.25 Paragraph 50; p.26 Paragraph 51.