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| Army trainers suspended from role | Army trainers suspended from role |
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| Five training instructors based at Britain's biggest Army base have been suspended, a military source has said. | Five training instructors based at Britain's biggest Army base have been suspended, a military source has said. |
| It comes as the BBC prepares to screen a report on an undercover investigation into bullying of recruits at the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. | It comes as the BBC prepares to screen a report on an undercover investigation into bullying of recruits at the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. |
| A reporter who spent six months as an infantry recruit at the base uncovered evidence of physical abuse. | A reporter who spent six months as an infantry recruit at the base uncovered evidence of physical abuse. |
| The head of the Army, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, said "robust training" was fine but bullying was unacceptable. | |
| The incidents came despite promised changes after four recruits died after bullying at Deepcut Barracks in Surrey. | The incidents came despite promised changes after four recruits died after bullying at Deepcut Barracks in Surrey. |
| A military source was reported as saying three instructors were suspended before the authorities were made aware of the BBC programme. | A military source was reported as saying three instructors were suspended before the authorities were made aware of the BBC programme. |
| But another two were suspended after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) received further evidence from the BBC, the source said. | But another two were suspended after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) received further evidence from the BBC, the source said. |
| The MoD could not confirm details of the suspensions. | The MoD could not confirm details of the suspensions. |
| 'Punched me' | 'Punched me' |
| BBC reporter Russell Sharp secretly filmed life at the infantry training centre on his mobile phone and recorded his thoughts. | BBC reporter Russell Sharp secretly filmed life at the infantry training centre on his mobile phone and recorded his thoughts. |
| He discovered five instructors, all corporals, were involved in bullying and physically abusing young recruits. | He discovered five instructors, all corporals, were involved in bullying and physically abusing young recruits. |
| Robust training is what we're after - bullying is not acceptable Gen Sir Richard Dannatt Undercover reporter and soldier | |
| One recruit said of an instructor: "Yeah he beat me up... Kicked me around. Punched me." | One recruit said of an instructor: "Yeah he beat me up... Kicked me around. Punched me." |
| Despite examples of good practice, two recruits claimed they were forced to the ground, one with a rifle loaded and ready to fire. | Despite examples of good practice, two recruits claimed they were forced to the ground, one with a rifle loaded and ready to fire. |
| One corporal urinated on a recruit's boot, and more than one young soldier said he was punched in the face by his instructor. | One corporal urinated on a recruit's boot, and more than one young soldier said he was punched in the face by his instructor. |
| Another recruit said his hand was so badly injured in a beating he could not salute properly. | Another recruit said his hand was so badly injured in a beating he could not salute properly. |
| Gen Dannatt said if any recruits felt they were being harassed, then they needed to speak up. | |
| He said: "Robust training is what we're after - bullying is not acceptable. It's not a perfect organisation and if some people get it wrong, then after investigation, they will be subject to sanction." | |
| Already investigating | |
| In a statement the MoD said it had already been in the process of investigating several of the cases brought to them by the BBC documentary team and launched further investigations into the new allegations. | |
| It said: "We are, however, unable to comment on the details of specific cases so that we do not prejudice ongoing legal processes." | |
| Russell Sharp signed up and spent six months training | Russell Sharp signed up and spent six months training |
| "Bullying is absolutely unacceptable and fundamentally at odds with the Army's core values." | |
| It added: "All soldiers are made aware that if they are a victim of bullying then they can complain either through their chain of command or to the independent Service Complaints Commissioner. | It added: "All soldiers are made aware that if they are a victim of bullying then they can complain either through their chain of command or to the independent Service Complaints Commissioner. |
| "We keep the standards of training across all Army facilities under constant review to ensure that the core values are being observed, and our training establishments are also the subject of continuous scrutiny by external, independent authorities." | "We keep the standards of training across all Army facilities under constant review to ensure that the core values are being observed, and our training establishments are also the subject of continuous scrutiny by external, independent authorities." |
| Independent inquiry | Independent inquiry |
| Other allegations of bullying at Catterick Garrison have emerged in the past. | Other allegations of bullying at Catterick Garrison have emerged in the past. |
| In 2003, the families of soldiers who died in non-combat incidents at the site called for a public inquiry amid allegations of bullying and harassment of young recruits. | In 2003, the families of soldiers who died in non-combat incidents at the site called for a public inquiry amid allegations of bullying and harassment of young recruits. |
| Joke comes close to uncovering truth about reporter | Joke comes close to uncovering truth about reporter |
| In 2006, a new course for instructors was introduced after footage of recruits apparently being humiliated surfaced. But no criminal charges were brought over the incident and Army chiefs stressed an inquiry had not found any evidence of abuse. | In 2006, a new course for instructors was introduced after footage of recruits apparently being humiliated surfaced. But no criminal charges were brought over the incident and Army chiefs stressed an inquiry had not found any evidence of abuse. |
| The Catterick incidents in the BBC programme were of a different nature to those highlighted by the investigations into Deepcut Barracks in Surrey where four recruits died between 1995 and 2002. | The Catterick incidents in the BBC programme were of a different nature to those highlighted by the investigations into Deepcut Barracks in Surrey where four recruits died between 1995 and 2002. |
| A review found some soldiers at Deepcut during the period were being beaten and sexually abused by their instructors. | A review found some soldiers at Deepcut during the period were being beaten and sexually abused by their instructors. |
| As a result, the Army introduced a new two-week training course aimed at all instructors. | As a result, the Army introduced a new two-week training course aimed at all instructors. |
| The government refused to order a public inquiry into Deepcut despite repeated calls for one from the families of the four recruits who died. Instead a review was held which investigated the way recruits are treated and trained. | The government refused to order a public inquiry into Deepcut despite repeated calls for one from the families of the four recruits who died. Instead a review was held which investigated the way recruits are treated and trained. |
| Army guidelines say the use of physical strength or abuse of authority in order to intimidate is unacceptable. | Army guidelines say the use of physical strength or abuse of authority in order to intimidate is unacceptable. |
| The Undercover Soldier will be shown on BBC One (except Northern Ireland) on Thursday 18 September at 2100 BST. | The Undercover Soldier will be shown on BBC One (except Northern Ireland) on Thursday 18 September at 2100 BST. |
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| Are you a member of the armed forces? Have you ever experienced bullying? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you a member of the armed forces? Have you ever experienced bullying? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| Your comments will not be published unless you indicate otherwise in the box below. | Your comments will not be published unless you indicate otherwise in the box below. |