Member

That fact does not mean that we should abandon accountability—our British forces are respected around the world precisely because they operate to the highest standards—but neither should we create a system in which those who have risked their life for this nation face the prospect of endless reinvestigation, long after the guns have fallen silent. The law should recognise those realities. Operational personnel should not be exposed to legal obligations that risk second-guessing battlefield decisions years after the event. That has simply contributed to uncertainty, excessive litigation, and a culture in which servicemen and women feel that they may face legal jeopardy for carrying out the duties entrusted to them by Parliament and the Government.