MoD has no system to detect civilian harm caused by military, study shows

The Ministry of Defence has no system for examining whether UK military action has killed or injured civilians in war, a study commissioned by the department has revealed. The MoD also “does not maintain a central register of civilian harm incidents or allegations” and, despite mass casualties caused by other countries, has concluded there is no need to do so because its existing mitigation is considered effective. Processes that did exist – and led to the payments of £31.8m in over 6,500 cases relating to incidents of civilian death, injury and torture relating to Iraq and Afghanistan – have now “fallen into disuse”, the study said. The revelation that the British military does not investigate war crimes allegations systematically comes after it emerged that the Foreign Office is closing its international humanitarian law unit , which investigates the conduct of other countries. It was made in a seven-page review summary released last week by the MoD in response to freedom of information requests made by Ceasefire, an international charity representing civilian rights in conflicts. …