Legal News

The coalition government has proposed that verbal and physical attacks on Armed Forces personnel in the UK should be designated an aggravated crime.

The beheading of Drummer Lee Rigby in an attack outside London’s Woolwich Barracks in May by two men caused a public outrage.

However, it is not uncommon for serving soldiers to be verbally or even physically abused by the public, especially if they are seen in uniform.

Statistics show that one-fifth of Armed Forces personnel have received verbal abuse form the public – and one in 20 has been physically abused.

The new law would offer more protection to Armed Forces personnel and class verbal or physical abuse of forces personnel or their families as a hate crime on a par with the same protection given to ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities and the gay community.

The new law was put forward by Labour MP Thomas Docherty and MPs will vote on it this week. It is thought the proposal has the backing of many Tory MPs and the Shadow Defence Secretary Vernon Coaker.

However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a statement saying it does not want the Armed Forces “singled out for special treatment”.

A former British Army Commander in Afghanistan – Colonel Richard Kemp – has called public abuse of Armed Force personnel “shameful”.

“There have been too many cases in recent years where soldiers have been subjected to torrents of abuse – often by those who object to Britain’s use of military force overseas.

”It is shameful that members of the Armed Forces need specific legal protection, but that is the reality of a society in which we live.”

Thomas Docherty has said that his proposal has received “a lot of backing” and that he is confident the law will be passed by the House of Commons this week – and the law would apply whether Armed Forces personnel were wearing uniform at the time of the attack or were in civilian dress.
“The evidence shows that our soldiers, sailors and airmen need the protection of the law as they are often singled out for attacks on the basis of their service to their country,” said Mr Docherty.
“For this reason the increase in sentences for aggravation related to disability, race or sexual orientation should be extended to include members of the Armed Forces and their families.”
The law would protect members of the Army, Navy and Air Force and their families from verbal or physical abuse under an amendment to the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the Mail Online reports.

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