[Reader-list] MoD uses counter-terrorism powers to spy on wounded soldiers

[Taha Mehmood]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/5854169/MoD-uses-counter-terrorism-powers-to-spy-on-wounded-soldiers.html


MoD uses counter-terrorism powers to spy on wounded soldiers
Hundreds of injured servicemen who submitted compensation claims have
been secretly filmed by Ministry of Defence officers to check whether
they are exaggerating or lying, it has emerged.

Published: 7:00AM BST 18 Jul 2009

The secret surveillance of claimants is being carried out under the
controversial Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA),
originally intended to help the police and MI5 monitor terrorists in
the UK.

All injured servicemen and women who have begun the compensation
process have been sent letters, via their solicitors, warning them
that they could be filmed.

It reads: "Claims are investigated thoroughly and can involve an
assessment of the claimant's physical capability undertaken covertly
by surveillance when necessary and proportionate."

If there is suspicion of fraud, their case will be "routinely" passed
on to the MoD police for investigation.

Since April 2004, 284 servicemen have been covertly filmed, which
represents about one per cent of the claims brought against the MoD,
the department confirmed.

Military commanders and soldiers wounded in action have called the
practice a "national disgrace".

Warren Ward, a former soldier who was wounded by a mortar bomb in
Basra, said the letter had left him feeling "like a benefits cheat".

"I'm not a scrounger. I did my duty as a soldier for my country," he said.

Diane Dernie, mother of paratrooper Ben Parkinson who was left unable
to walk or speak after sustaining horrific injuries in Afghanistan,
said: "I can barely believe it.

"We are talking about young men who are terribly maimed, or who see
their friends killed and mangled and then have to clear up the
remains.

"I've seen these people make incredible efforts to get well again, yet
the MoD is treating them as potential fraudsters – and for what?"

Lord Guthrie, the retired Chief of the Defence Staff, also condemned
the MoD's use of RIPA.

"I find this extraordinary, but sadly it is rather typical of the
attitude in the Ministry of Defence and Whitehall

"I have never heard of such tactics before. I think it's a terribly
unfortunate thing for the MoD to decide to do."

It has recently been disclosed that local councils have been using
RIPA powers, which allow covert filming, bugging and recruiting
members of the public to act as "intelligence sources", provoking
outrage.

The MoD has defended its use, saying they only employ surveillance in
a minority of cases where fraud is suspected, and have saved several
million pounds of the defence budget in doing so.

A spokesman said: "The MoD, like the insurance industry, is at risk of
fraudulent claims. If, during the process of determining liability,
evidence suggests that a claim has been exaggerated, surveillance may
be used to verify details. It is used in less than one per cent of
cases and should be of no concern to individuals with a legitimate
claim."