Recommendation 1

It is clear that some of the investigations, inquiries and litigation into incidents arising from the UK’s involvement in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have exposed wrongdoing, such as mistreatment of detainees, unlawful detention and breaches of the prohibition on torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Article 3 ECHR). Cases have also exposed poor practices, procedures and equipment on the part of the MoD that have led to the unnecessary deaths of, and injuries to, members of the Armed Forces. Such investigations, inquiries and litigation must continue to be allowed to uncover any such poor practices, so that lessons are learned in order to prevent people—whether members of the Armed Forces or civilians—being harmed or killed unnecessarily.