News Item - News - Surrey Police

Surrey Police calls for independent oversight into care of young soldiers

Submitted: 03/04/2008 12:04:56

Surrey Police today (4 March 2004) published their fifth and final report following the deaths at the Deepcut Army Barracks, and called for a broader enquiry into Army training to look at why young soldiers are particularly vulnerable to undetermined death, self-harm and suicide and consider an independent system of oversight, similar to that seen in other public bodies, for the high risk and sensitive areas of recruit training.

Click here to read the full report

Surrey Police has acknowledged the shortcomings of the original investigations into the four deaths and apologised to the families for not taking the lead and ensuring a thorough inquiry at the outset. With the support of the four families Surrey Police conducted a re-investigation of these deaths and has attempted to do this as thoroughly as possible.

On 19 September 2003, Surrey Police reported details of its investigations into the four Deepcut deaths to the Surrey Coroner. The four reports set out an account of the evidence in relation to the respective deaths. On delivery of the reports to the Coroner, Surrey Police indicated its intention to produce a fifth and final report to examine wider organisational issues in the Army that were clearly relevant to the enquiry into the four deaths.

The report recognises that the Army has acted to progress the lessons logged on the learning account by Surrey Police in 2002 and that there now exists a programme of work to introduce improvements across a wide range of practices and procedures relating to the care of soldiers in training.

The Chief Constable of Surrey Police, Denis O’Connor, said:

“ One cannot help but be moved by the grief and suffering of parents and loved ones of soldiers who have died, not in combat, where the risks are understood, but in training and in circumstances that lead to the belief these deaths could be avoided.

“In undertaking the overall investigation and producing the final report, Surrey Police has had regard to the work of the Army to improve the care regime since the investigation began in 2002 and the Army were notified of our initial concerns. However, despite these considerations, Surrey Police remains concerned that more needs to be done to address areas of risk and strengthen the care regime for young soldiers in training. This is most likely to be achieved through new arrangements for accountability and independent oversight.”

The Deputy Chief Constable of Surrey, Bob Quick, said:

“Accordingly we recommend that the Ministry of Defence considers a broader investigation of:

1. Whether the risks identified at Deepcut are replicated across the wider ATRA and how these may relate to the issues of self harm, suicide and undermined deaths.

2. How the Army’s care regime may be further improved.

3. How independent oversight might help the Army define and maintain appropriate standards of care for young soldiers.”

Ends

For further information contact Surrey Police press office on 01483 482322 or email: press.office@surrey.police.uk

For up-to-date news see our website at www.surrey.police.uk

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