Memorandum from Mr Lembit Öpik MP
I write as constituency Member of Parliament
for Des and Doreen James, whose daughter Cheryl James died at
Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut in 1995.
Over the past two years, I have spent many hours
speaking with the James family about the circumstances surrounding
their daughter's death. I have attended briefings from Surrey
Police on the investigation into Cheryl's death and held meetings
with the Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram. I have also spoken
to the James' lawyers and other independent experts with regard
to technical and legal matters. I therefore have an awareness
of the way in which the Army has discharged its duty of care responsibilities
in the past.
Crucial questions relating to the death of Cheryl
James remain unanswered. Actions and decisions taken by the Ministry
of Defence at the time of Cheryl's death remain unaccounted for.
I understand this is true in each of the four cases of deaths
at Deepcut. I feel that, with the best will in the world, the
Defence Select Committee's Duty of Care Inquiry cannot adequately
address all the issues raised by Surrey Police in their Final
Report published on 4 March 2004.
The Surrey Police Deepcut Investigation Final
Report examined the wider issues identified during police investigations
into the deaths of Privates Sean Benton, Cheryl James, Geoff Gray
and James Collinson at Princess Royal Barracks Deepcut between
1995 and 2002. Two months into their re-investigation, Surrey
Police became concerned about the apparent lack of safeguards
in the Army's care regime. Surrey Police uncovered a minefield
of issues relating to organisational and cultural issues in the
Army. Their concern was such that it prompted them to produce
an additional report recommending a broader enquiry.
I know the Defence Select Committee's Duty of
Care Inquiry intends to investigate issues relating to improvements
to the current care regime. However, it simply cannot properly
investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the four
individuals at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. It cannot examine
the identified issues of bullying and harassment or the overall
management of the Deepcut camp at the time of the four deaths.
It cannot get to the truth about why these young individuals died.
The Defence Select Committee have acknowledged
there have been calls for a public inquiry into specific deaths
at Army training establishments and understands why such demands
are being made. They have stated that the duty of care inquiry
isn't a substitute for a public inquiry into past events, and
that they are not the appropriate forum to do justice to the matters
which would come under question in a specific inquiry into Deepcut,
Catterick or elsewhere.
The question therefore remains, and I ask the
Committee to consider, who will do justice to these matters?
The Army has a duty of care to its recruits, and it had a duty
of care to Privates Sean Benton, Cheryl James, Geoff Gray and
James Collinson. The Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram, has recognised
that "each of these four deaths was an individual tragedy
in its own right". All four deaths remain unexplained.
One hundred and forty Members of Parliament
have signed an Early Day Motion supporting a full, independent
inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the four deaths at
Deepcut. The Early Day Motion, tabled by Kevin McNamara MP, outlines
our concerns:
That this House applauds the courage and determination
of more than 40 victim families who have come together to establish
"Deepcut and Beyond: Armed Forces Families' Justice Campaign",
an organisation that seeks truth for families of those whose death
has not been investigated effectively, justice in holding to account
and prosecuting those responsible, change to protect other families
and prevent future deaths; supports the call for a full and independent
inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the four deaths at
Deepcut; expresses its sadness that up to 2,000 members of Her
Majesty's armed forces have lost their lives through non-natural
causes since 1990 and sends condolences to all their families;
notes that more than 200 deaths have been caused by discharge
of firearms and further that more than 200 are described as self-inflicted;
notes the growing public perception that the official response
to these deaths is inadequate and distressing to the bereaved;
believes the Army has a duty of care and protection towards all
personnel, particularly young soldiers; believes that the culture
of secrecy surrounding the varied causes of these deaths must
give way to greater transparency; believes that the environment
in which these deaths continue to occur and the absence of a system
for prompt, effective and independent investigation of deaths
has led to a breakdown in public confidence that can only be restored
through a full and independent public inquiry; and urges the Government
without delay to establish a Tribunal of Inquiry under the 1921
Act.
The need for a public inquiry has also been
endorsed by Amnesty International.
In conclusion, I am pleased the Defence Select
Committee is taking this matter very seriously. I hope this means
that it will concur with the assessment of others that a full
independent public inquiry will ultimately be the only way to
answer the core questions: how and why did these young people
die, and to what extent did the Army fulfil its duty of care responsibilities
to the four individuals that died at Deepcut?
April 2004
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