John Baron MP welcomes improvements to Overseas Operations Bill

MP says Britain’s reputation must be upheld

Today the Overseas Operations Bill returns to the Commons following its passage through the Lords. The Bill contains measures to help prevent the legal pursuit of British troops when no new evidence has come to light by introducing a new five-year limit on the time in which troops can be subjected to civil legal claims. However, following concerns from Peers and MPs, including John Baron MP, the Government has excluded serious crimes from this five-year limit to ensure that the most serious offences will still be fully investigated.

John said,

“The Overseas Operations Bill is a good step forward for veterans which contains positive measures to prevent the endless cycle of reinvestigations and other claims levelled at our troops in recent years, very few of which have been upheld. It is right that the Government legislates to protect them from vexatious claims and repeated investigations when there is no new evidence forthcoming.”

“However, the Bill required some improvement and I am pleased the Government has listened to those of us with concerns and tabled an amendment to ensure serious crimes, including torture and genocide, will not be affected by the five-year limit. Britain’s international reputation will not be served by giving the impression that we are giving the green light to unacceptable behaviour by our troops, and it would be intolerable if the International Criminal Court felt it had to prosecute British soldiers because British laws were not up to the job.”