Cameron to crack down on ‘spurious’ military legal claims

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced he will ‘stamp out’ spurious legal claims against British troops returning from war.

Cameron said ministers have been asked to draw up plans to restrict claims such as curbing financial incentives such as the ‘no win, no fee’ cases.

Currently, an estimated 280 UK veterans are currently being investigated over alleged abuse claims by soldiers during the Iraq War. The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) was set up to investigate allegations of murder, abuse and torture against Iraqi civilians by UK military personnel between 2003 and 2009.

However, Cameron has warned that some people are being ‘solicited by lawyers’ and encouraged into making accusations that are partly or wholly fabricated. He said there was now ‘an industry trying to profit from spurious claims’ against UK military personnel.

Cameron has ordered the National Security Council (NSO) to produce a ‘comprehensive plan to stamp out this industry’.

Plans which are currently under consideration include: curbing the ‘financial incentives’ for law firms to pursue ‘no win, no fee’ claims against military personnel, and the reimbursement of costs that can be awarded through such arrangements; bringing forward plans to make it a requirement for claimants to be resident in the UK for at least 12 months in order to be eligible for legal aid; and a ‘broader legislative package’ to strengthen investigative powers and penalties that can be used against law firms found to be ‘abusing the system’ by pursuing claims that are ruled to be fabricated.

Cameron said: ”Our armed forces are rightly held to the highest standards - but I want our troops to know that when they get home from action overseas this government will protect them from being hounded by lawyers over claims that are totally without foundation."

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