A British Armed Forces Federation member has given evidence on behalf of the Federation to the House of Commons Bill Committee which is considering the Government's Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill. He was the first witness questioned by the Committee on 6th October.

There are three main facets to the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, which is being examined by a committee of MPs which must complete its consideration not later than Thursday 22 Oct 2020:

Update: The Public Bill Committee which has been considering the Overseas Operations etc Bill has now completed its work and has reported the Bill without amendments to the House of Commons. 

The Bill is now due to have its report stage and third reading on Tuesday 3 November 2020. Amendments can be made to the Bill at Report Stage. The Bill then goes to the House of Lords. Our article below is now archived.

The second reading of the Overseas Operations Bill in the House of Commons is on Wednesday, 23rd September. BAFF contributed to the MOD consultation prior to the drafting of the Bill, and we know that a number of our members have been following this closely.

BAFF's line since the Federation's earliest days has been that improvements were required in order to protect service personnel and veterans, but that no-one should expect impunity if there is credible evidence that they committed crimes. We also offered practical help by helping to arrange court martial representation, and basic professional legal advice for any serving or veteran BAFF member approached by ongoing investigations, even if only as a witness.