Report says British army fails to tackle bullying

LONDON: Bullying in the British army is rarely reported and should be scrutinised by an independent complaints body, a hard-hitting parliamentary report said on Monday. It also recommended the government consider whether recruiting under-18s into the armed forces was appropriate. Following months of inquiry prompted by the deaths of four young soldiers at an army barracks, parliament’s cross-party Defence Committee concluded bullying and sexual and racial harassment was a problem that was rarely reported to officers. “For too long in the past, the armed forces, and the army in particular, failed to grasp the nettle of duty of care,” the committee said. “We conclude that bullying exists in the armed forces and that it is under-reported.” Parents of the four recruits have campaigned for a public inquiry into their shooting deaths at Deepcut barracks in Surrey, south of London, between 1995 and 2002 but the government has refused. Coroners ruled one of the deaths a suicide, recorded open verdicts on two and have yet to rule on the fourth. Forensic experts have offered differing opinions but some say the gunshot wounds were unlikely to have been self-inflicted. reuters

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