Government plans to clamp down on battlefield legal claims against British soldiers

The government is set to announce plans to protect British Armed Forces from legal claims over their actions on the battlefield.

In the wake of a number of legal claims being brought against British soldiers, the government will announce on Tuesday (4 October) its plans to exempt them from the jurisdiction of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Prime Minister Theresa May said the plans to derogate UK forces from the ECHR would protect British troops in future conflicts from persistent legal claims that have followed recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a statement, she said: "My Government will ensure that our troops are recognised for the incredible job they do. Those who serve on the frontline will have our support when they come home.

"We will repay them with gratitude and put an end to the industry of vexatious claims that has pursued those who served in previous conflicts.

"Combined with the biggest defence budget in Europe, the action we are laying out today means we will continue to play our part on the world stage, protecting UK interests across the globe."

There are over 2,000 probes into personnel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan being carried out by the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), set up by the MoD.

Ihat aims to investigate claims of murder and abuse by British soldiers, but has come under fire for its handling of inquiries and has been accused of ambulance chasing. Currently, it has dropped 57 investigations, has been criticised by MPs, and faces its own inquiry by the Defence Select Committee led by Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "Our legal system has been abused to level false charges against our troops on an industrial scale.

"It has caused significant distress to people who risked their lives to protect us, it has cost the taxpayer millions and there is a real risk it will stop our armed forces doing their job."

"This change is an important step towards putting that right – a key commitment the Conservative Party made in last year's general election.

However, in September of this year, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn defended investigations into alleged abuses by British soldiers, saying allegations of misconduct had to be investigated to recognise international law.

He told the BBC that "saying never to prosecute I think would be a step too far."