Lawyer will head Deepcut inquiry

Private James Collinson from Perth died at the Deepcut barracks

The latest inquiry into the Deepcut Army barracks will be carried out by human rights lawyer Nicholas Blake, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

He was asked to "urgently review" the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four soldiers "in light of available material and any representations".

The move follows new claims of rape, sexual harassment and bullying which emerged after a Surrey Police inquiry.

James Collinson, from Perth, was among those who died at the Surrey base.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram announced a fresh review last month in an effort to allay public concerns over the 173 allegations of abuse at the barracks.

The soldiers who died at Deepcut Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, East Sussex, 1995 Cheryl James, 18, from Froncysyllte, north Wales, 1995 Geoff Gray, 17, from Seaham, County Durham, 2001 James Collinson, 17, from Perth, Scotland, 2002 Independent review at Deepcut

However, he stopped short of ordering the public inquiry long demanded by the families of the soldiers who died at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002.

On Wednesday, Mr Ingram announced the terms of reference for the review.

He said Mr Blake would begin his "thorough and rigorous" review shortly and predicted that his report would be completed in the first half of next year.

Mr Ingram said that the lawyer would receive full cooperation from the MoD, the Army and Surrey Police.

"I would like to stress that the review is independent from the government and that Mr Blake's report will be published in full," he said.

"I am aware of the calls for a public inquiry into all non-combat deaths in the British Army.

Current investigations

"Concentrating on the deaths at Deepcut will, however, focus on the issue at the heart of public concern.

"An independent review will produce a report in a relatively short period of time and will not interfere with other current investigations or proceedings."

The review was welcomed by the Adjutant General, Lt Gen Sir Alistair Irwin.

I hope that the announcement of this independent review will encourage others who have relevant information to give to come forward if they have not already done so Nicholas Blake QC

He said: "The Army welcomes this independent review and will fully cooperate with it.

"We know that there are public concerns about Deepcut and we hope that this independent review will unequivocally put these concerns to rest once and for all."

The MoD described Mr Blake, a QC, as a distinguished human rights lawyer with wide experience of civil liberties and criminal justice.

The lawyer said: "This review is not a public inquiry.

"It does not set out to be a fresh investigation into the facts. Rather it is primarily an independent evaluation of the existing material.

"However, it may be that fresh lines of inquiry will emerge from an analysis of the material.

The deaths at Deepcut took place between 1995 and 2002

"I hope that the announcement of this independent review will encourage others who have relevant information to give to come forward if they have not already done so."

He said he would be aiming to gain an understanding of the wider circumstances of the soldiers' deaths and what may have led to them, and then make any relevant recommendations.

Mr Ingram said later that the publicity surrounding the Deepcut deaths was damaging recruitment to the armed forces.

He said there had been a "feeding frenzy based on a lot of uncorroborated information".

However, Pte Collinson's father Jim described his comments as "an absolute disgrace".

"I think if Mr Ingram thinks it has damaged recruitment figures he should have today had the power and the will to give us a full, public, independent inquiry," he said.