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MoD reviews sale of media stories MoD ban on troops selling stories
(about 1 hour later)
The Ministry of Defence is to review rules allowing personnel to sell stories to the media following the row over the Navy crew held by Iran. The Ministry of Defence has banned personnel from selling their stories to the media until a review of the rules governing the issue is completed.
Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Adrian Johns said a review is under way across the armed forces, because the current regulations are outdated. Defence Secretary Des Browne said the review was aimed at making rules consistent across the armed forces, and right for a "modern media environment".
It comes after two of the 15-strong Navy crew held in Iran sold stories. It follows a row after two Navy crew members held in Iran sold stories.
Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper.Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper.
Some of the reported six-figure sum for the interview with Leading Seaman Turney will go to navy families.Some of the reported six-figure sum for the interview with Leading Seaman Turney will go to navy families.
Relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq last week have criticised the decision to allow the crew to sell their stories. Relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq last week have criticised the decision by the Royal Navy to allow the crew to sell their stories.
The mother of Eleanor Dlugosz - the 19-year-old army medic from Hampshire killed - did not criticise the crew, but said her daughter "wouldn't have wanted any monetary gain for herself" for serving in Iraq, "only perhaps donations to Royal British Legion".The mother of Eleanor Dlugosz - the 19-year-old army medic from Hampshire killed - did not criticise the crew, but said her daughter "wouldn't have wanted any monetary gain for herself" for serving in Iraq, "only perhaps donations to Royal British Legion".
I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows
Vice Adm Johns told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "The Second Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence has now asked for a review of these regulations because, quite frankly, they were probably written at a time when a fee meant a fairly modest fee for giving some information to a journalist or newspaper. Mr Browne said he recognised the dilemma faced by the Royal Navy.
"He wants to take the review right across to make sure the rules and regulations are consistent across the three services and to make sure they are updated for the media environment we find ourselves in today." "Should they refuse to give them permission to accept payment, recognising that some of them would find ways to tell their experiences anyway, without the support and advice of their service, and therefore with greater risk to themselves and crucially also at risk to operational security?
Vice Adm Johns also defended the move to allow the sale of the stories. "Or should the navy accept that in this particular and exceptional case, and in the modern media environment, they should give permission for these young people to tell their story precisely in order to stay close to them but accepting the consequence of the potential payment involved?"
He said: "We thought it was very important indeed to let these people tell the story in their own words and through the media. He said he hoped people would understand it had been "a very tough call" for the navy, but "all of those involved over the last few days recognised we have not reached a satisfactory outcome".
"And, far more important, we do this early and now while they have full advice from our own media facilitators." Until there was clear guidance for the future, no further service personnel would be allowed to talk to the media about their experiences in return for payment, he added.
Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Adrian Johns defended the decision to allow the sale of stories.
"We thought it was very important indeed to let these people tell the story in their own words and through the media," he said.
'Unsavoury' sale'Unsavoury' sale
Lord Heseltine, the former deputy prime minister and defence secretary, has called for an inquiry into the decision to allow the sale of stories.
The crew returned to the UK on Thursday after 13 days in captivityThe crew returned to the UK on Thursday after 13 days in captivity
Both of the officers among the captives have said they do not plan to profit from the story.Both of the officers among the captives have said they do not plan to profit from the story.
Lieutenant Felix Carman, who was among those held, defended Leading Seaman Turney's decision to sell her story.Lieutenant Felix Carman, who was among those held, defended Leading Seaman Turney's decision to sell her story.
But he added that he found it "slightly unsavoury" that his fellow captives are being paid to tell their story.But he added that he found it "slightly unsavoury" that his fellow captives are being paid to tell their story.
HAVE YOUR SAY The tragedy is that the relatives of those servicemen/women who have died seem to generate much less interest from the media Fred, Macclesfield Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The tragedy is that the relatives of those servicemen/women who have died seem to generate much less interest from the media Fred, Macclesfield Send us your comments
He later told Sky News that it was a "shame" that the release of the sailors had coincided with the deaths of four UK service personnel in Iraq.He later told Sky News that it was a "shame" that the release of the sailors had coincided with the deaths of four UK service personnel in Iraq.
But, of Leading Seaman Turney, he said: "She has taken the money, she is safeguarding her daughter's future. I would like to see what the critics would do in a similar position."But, of Leading Seaman Turney, he said: "She has taken the money, she is safeguarding her daughter's future. I would like to see what the critics would do in a similar position."
The Sun newspaper has defended its decision to pay Leading Seaman Turney.The Sun newspaper has defended its decision to pay Leading Seaman Turney.
'Free country'
The paper's defence editor, Tom Newton-Dunn, who refused to reveal how much she was being paid, said: "She has a right to do this.The paper's defence editor, Tom Newton-Dunn, who refused to reveal how much she was being paid, said: "She has a right to do this.
We are a free country. Faye has been through the most extraordinary ordeal, which is clearly graphically illustrated."We are a free country. Faye has been through the most extraordinary ordeal, which is clearly graphically illustrated."
Two-week ordeal
In the Trevor Macdonald programme, to be broadcast at 2000 BST on Monday, she defends her decision to sell her story and says a percentage of the money will help the crew and families of HMS Cornwall.In the Trevor Macdonald programme, to be broadcast at 2000 BST on Monday, she defends her decision to sell her story and says a percentage of the money will help the crew and families of HMS Cornwall.
"I was offered a hell of a lot of money for my story. I've not taken the biggest offer, I've gone down...because I wanted to speak to yourself and the Sun because I knew my point would be put across."I was offered a hell of a lot of money for my story. I've not taken the biggest offer, I've gone down...because I wanted to speak to yourself and the Sun because I knew my point would be put across.
"I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through," she told the programme."I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through," she told the programme.
Two-week ordeal
She also said that there were times during her two-week ordeal when she cried herself to sleep.She also said that there were times during her two-week ordeal when she cried herself to sleep.
Meanwhile Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors and how he "cried like a baby" in his cell.Meanwhile Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors and how he "cried like a baby" in his cell.
He told the newspaper: "A guard kept flicking my neck with his index finger and thumb. I thought the worst, we've all seen the videos. I was frozen in terror and just stared into the darkness of my blindfold."He told the newspaper: "A guard kept flicking my neck with his index finger and thumb. I thought the worst, we've all seen the videos. I was frozen in terror and just stared into the darkness of my blindfold."