UK: British army suicides and bullying allegations continue
01 November 2008
A BBC television documentary,
Undercover Soldier, which was aired in September to investigate if the army had stamped out bullying in the aftermath of the Deepcut scandal, has resulted in five army instructors at the Caterick training base in North Yorkshire, being suspended while military authorities carry out an investigation. In the programme reporter, Russell Sharp, went undercover for six months, and discovered “shocking” racism and bullying. Sharp alleges that he also was manhandled by one of the trainers. In the programme recruits complained of being punched, battered and kicked and one claimed that he was urinated on by a corporal who laughed at him when he complained.
Within days of the programme a 29-year old army recruit was found hanged at the Alexander Barracks at the Pirbright Training Centre, in Surrey. Anthony Manuel Jose Hernandez had joined the army five days earlier. The Pirbright centre, which opened this year, is less than a mile from the Deepcut Barracks where four young recruits, Sean Benton (20), James Collinson (17), Geoff Grey (17) and Cheryl James (19) died of bullet wounds in separate incidents between 1995 and 2002. Parents of the victims say that they are still trying to get answers to their questions despite the Ministry of Defence (MoD) commissioning a review of the deaths that recommended new training and complaints procedures to tackle the bullying of recruits. The MoD announced the closure of Deepcut in January 2008. Surrey police have launched an inquiry into the Pirbright death.
In July three soldiers were cleared of the manslaughter of Private Gavin Williams (22) who collapsed and died at Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth, after being forced to carry out an informal punishment known as “beasting” (rough treatment, in this case an intense session of physical exercise) for drunkenness in 2006. Following the acquittal of the three soldiers the trial judge, Mr Justice Royce, criticised the army for allowing the punishment to take place. He was also highly critical of the fact that only the three non-commissioned officers were placed in the dock, while their commanding officer, Captain Mark Davies, who ordered the punishment, was not prosecuted.
“The Undercover Soldier”, BBC 1, 19 September 2007;
Surrey Police “The Deepcut Investigation: Final Report” 2003 http://www.surrey.police.uk/Deepcut_final.pdf
Commons Defence Committee “Duty of Care: Third Report of Session 2004–05” Volume I (The Stationery Office Limited, HC 63-I) 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/14_03_05_deepcut_mps.pdf
Ministry of Defence “The Government’s Response to the Deepcut Review” (Crown Copyright, Cm 6851) 2006 http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm68/6851/6851.pdf
Nicholas Blake QC “The Deepcut Review: a review of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four soldiers at Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut between 1995 and 2002” (The Stationery Office) 2006 http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0506/hc07/0795/0795.asp
BBC News 31.7.08; The Times 19.9.08.