This article from June 2011 is of renewed topical interest. An investigation by BBC News has revealed that the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) - which was announced in March 2010 and began work at the beginning of November - has so far managed to interview only ONE of the Iraqi civilian complainants. Some individuals have reportedly refused to cooperate on the advice of their lawyers, but IHAT dispute that such advice is justified.

 British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) spokesman Adrian Weale, who served on Operation Telic, was interviewed on Radio 4's Today programme and other BBC media. He said:

Guardian:  "There would be political and practical difficulties in deploying the army on the streets of London to tackle the riots, say academics." The story continues:

The Armed Forces Bill has now completed its consideration in the House of Commons. It is due to be debated on the House of Lords on 6 July.

The Guardian is reporting that Lord Levene's plans for root and branch reform of the military are likely to cause consternation among senior officers:

The Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, sets out in The Sunday Telegraph why he believes the Coalition is right to radically reform UK defences. "The vision we've set out – Future Force 2020 – ensures that by the end of the decade we have coherent, efficient and cutting-edge Armed Forces prepared for the challenges of the future."

A Welsh Territorial Army soldier who shot dead an Afghan he believed to be in the act of laying an IED could become the first British soldier to be charged with murder in that theatre. While any charges under military law would be a decision for the independent Service Prosecuting Authority, BAFF has commented on an aspect of the case.

Injured Armed Forces veterans will be guaranteed priority NHS care for life under new plans unveiled by ministers.

By Aislinn Laing

Published: 4:00PM GMT 11 Jan 2010

The initiative will start with a tailored healthcare plan drawn up before each serviceman or woman leaves the forces.

GPs and hospital staff will be reminded of their duty to provide priority care to those veterans and health authorities will be expected each to nominate a director to ensure they do.

Six pilot projects which saw NHS clinical psychologists appointed to work exclusively with veterans will be rolled out across the country, and six new mental health nurses from the military charity Combat Stress will be appointed in selected NHS trusts to link veterans with the right medical help.

The NHS will also match Defence Medical Services spending on prosthetic limbs for those veterans who need replacements in later life.

Full article at Telegraph.co.uk

BAFF is quoted in a report by the Sunday Telegraph defence correspondent, about the Army facing "huge cuts" after withdrawal from Afghanistan. The reductions would make the Army the smallest since the reign of George IV, who reigned 1820-1830. Quotes in the article:

According to a report in The Guardian, the armed forces have been warned that they cannot be spared from the government's spending cuts as pressure mounts on ministers to reconsider changes that could cost families thousands of pounds in pensions and allowances.

Independent on Sunday: "A serving British soldier in Afghanistan, enraged by last week's news of Army sackings-by email, believes our forces are being taken for granted. He decided to tell The IoS of his feelings":