Changes are needed to rectify serious flaws in the training UK soldiers get to deal with Iraqi prisoners, senior army officer Brig Robert Aitken says.
Changes are needed to rectify serious flaws in the training UK soldiers get to deal with Iraqi prisoners, senior army officer Brig Robert Aitken says.
In a report he also said some changes had already been made, and he found no evidence of systemic abuse by soldiers.
In a report he also said some changes had already been made, and he found no evidence of systemic abuse by soldiers.
The report was commissioned following allegations of abuse, including the case of Baha Mousa, who died in custody with 93 injuries in 2003.
The report was commissioned following allegations of abuse, including the case of Baha Mousa, who died in custody with 93 injuries in 2003.
The head of the Army said he was "satisfied" the changes had worked.
The head of the Army said he was "satisfied" the changes had worked.
'Guilty of abuse'
'Guilty of abuse'
Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the Army's chief of the general staff, said: "I'm extremely proud of what our soldiers have been doing in Iraq and Afghanistan in very difficult circumstances.
Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the Army's chief of the general staff, said: "I'm extremely proud of what our soldiers have been doing in Iraq and Afghanistan in very difficult circumstances.
"But I take no pride in the activities of a very small number of our soldiers who have been found guilty of abuse in Iraq in 2003, 2004.
"But I take no pride in the activities of a very small number of our soldiers who have been found guilty of abuse in Iraq in 2003, 2004.
"We've reflected in this report on those events, we've endeavoured to learn from our experiences, change some of our processes of training and the way we prepare, educate and train our soldiers for these operations.
"We've reflected in this report on those events, we've endeavoured to learn from our experiences, change some of our processes of training and the way we prepare, educate and train our soldiers for these operations.
"I'm now satisfied that the standards of behaviour are understood by all our people as they operate today in the difficult circumstances of Iraq and Afghanistan."
"I'm now satisfied that the standards of behaviour are understood by all our people as they operate today in the difficult circumstances of Iraq and Afghanistan."
Brig Aitken's report said lessons needed to be learned from several cases of abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Brig Aitken's report said lessons needed to be learned from several cases of abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Key recommendations
These happened during the volatile period between 2003 and 2004, when the insurgency in Iraq began after the invasion.
These happened during the volatile period between 2003 and 2004, when the insurgency in Iraq began after the invasion.
The report said the changes to the Army's pre-deployment training needed to be made in to prevent further abuses, and set out recommendations for improvements.
The report said the changes to the Army's pre-deployment training needed to be made in order to prevent further abuses, and set out recommendations for improvements.
There were three key recommendations:
The Army must learn from the disciplinary process, in the same way as it does from other areas of its operations
The Army must find ways to ingrain its high standards, values and standards of behaviour in its personnel
The Army must make sure administrative processes were used correctly
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