MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK Defense minister admits Special Forces under mounting pressure and legal scrutiny

Mr Streeting spoke to BFBS Forces News at his first Remembrance Sunday service as defense secretary. Picture: BFBS

Britain’s Defense Secretary Wes Streeting has acknowledged the mounting pressures facing UK Special Forces (UKSF) amid ongoing legal scrutiny, as he attended his first Remembrance Sunday service since taking up the role.

Asked by BFBS Forces News what he promises service personnel to meet the challenges ahead, Mr Streeting pointed to members of UKSF whose service often goes “unseen and unsung.”

“Today, they live under a cloud, worrying about whether they are going to be persecuted rather than thanked for their service,” he said. “Those are things I need to put right – there's going to be a process; it's not simple.”

“But on days like today [Remembrance Sunday], they galvanize me, and they galvanize the entire government around our responsibility and our duty to stand by our armed forces, by our veterans and their families.”

Acknowledging there was “much more to do”, the defense secretary said he was looking forward to working closely with the Armed Forces community to “make good on the commitment that we owe them”.

Mr Streeting's words echo the growing unrest and anxiety among UKSF members, following escalating waves of retroactive legal security. Central to this is the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan.

Chaired by Lord Justice Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, the public inquiry is examining operations carried out by the Special Air Service (SAS) between mid-2010 and mid-2013.

It is investigating allegations that SAS members executed men and children during detention raids, that unlawful conduct was concealed, and that military police subsequently failed to investigate properly.

The inquiry could lead to further criminal investigations into the alleged killings and any cover-up. It can establish facts and recommend further action, but any prosecution would be separate. (BFBS)