Fury as 280 British Iraq veterans hounded by investigators in 'despicable witch-hunt' over claims of torture and murder

Hundreds of British soldiers who served in Iraq have been hounded by investigators over claims of torture and murder
  • 280 soldiers have received a letter in the past two years questioning their involvement in the alleged abuse of suspected insurgents
  • Iraq Historical Allegations Team is investigating unlawful death cases involving 35 alleged killings
  • Service Prosecuting Authority is advising on an additional 20 cases
  • Veterans say it is only a matter of time before every soldier gets letter
  • Two soldiers described how they were 'exploited' by tax-payer funded detectives  
Hundreds of British soldiers who served in Iraq have been hounded by investigators over claims of torture and murder.
They have received letters questioning their role in the alleged abuse of suspected insurgents on the front line.
Forces chiefs and MPs last night condemned the ‘despicable witch-hunt’.
Some veterans are even handed the letters personally and quizzed on their doorsteps by taxpayer-funded detectives. 

Hundreds of British soldiers who served in Iraq have been hounded by investigators over claims of torture and murder
The soldiers are told that an incident they were involved in is under investigation by the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (IHAT). They are then asked to give evidence about their involvement – and the role of other soldiers. 
About 280 soldiers have received a letter in the past two years, and veterans say it is only a matter of time before every soldier who served in Iraq gets one. 
They fear they could face murder charges for split-second decisions made on the battlefield more than ten years ago.
Last night, it was reported that IHAT has sought advice from the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) over unlawful death cases involving 35 alleged killings. 
The SPA – the military equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service – is also preparing to advise on an additional 20 cases of alleged unlawful killing.
SPA director Andrew Cayley QC, a former war crimes prosecutor, told the Independent that his team would not ‘flinch’ in prosecuting British soldiers where there was evidence of unlawful killing and torture.
But he added: ‘Equally I want to make it absolutely clear that no member of the British Armed Forces will be prosecuted unless there is sufficient evidence to do so.’
Veterans say it is only a matter of time before every soldier who served in Iraq gets one, while others say they have been quizzed on their doorsteps by taxpayer-funded detectives

Veterans say it is only a matter of time before every soldier who served in Iraq gets one, while others say they have been quizzed on their doorsteps by taxpayer-funded detectives
Colonel Richard Kemp, a former commander of British forces, said he had been contacted by two soldiers, who had described how they were ‘exploited’ by tax-payer funded detectives. 
He told the Mail: ‘I know how much pressure it puts on them to be put under suspicion of a serious crime.
‘The idea that such a large number of soldiers should be accused of crime is a disgrace, and the Government should stop it. 
'These soldiers did not sign up to go and put their lives on the line only to spend what could be the rest of their lives being hounded for their loyalty.’
War heroes, military families and politicians have all called for ‘ambulance-chasing’ lawyers to stop harassing soldiers who had simply been doing their duty.
Former sergeant Richard Catterall, pictured, served in the military for more than 20 years. Forces chiefs and MPs last night condemned the ‘despicable witch-hunt’

Former sergeant Richard Catterall, pictured, served in the military for more than 20 years. Forces chiefs and MPs last night condemned the ‘despicable witch-hunt’
IHAT has received hundreds of allegations against British soldiers in the past few months, meaning the number of veterans receiving letters is likely to rise significantly this year.
Soldiers are also receiving letters ‘out of the blue’ by a second inquiry assessing whether the families of dead Iraqis should be given compensation. 
These letters warn that the inquiry has the power ‘to apply to the High Court to compel’ the attendance of witnesses.
The Government set aside £57 million five years ago for the investigation of 152 allegations of ill-treatment and unlawful killing of civilians. 
Now the number of cases being examined by the 145-strong IHAT unit – submitted by legal firms Leigh Day and Co and Public Interest Lawyers – has passed the 1,500 mark.
Despite no convictions so far, Mark Warwick, a former police officer who leads the unit, says it has been ‘overwhelmed with cases’.
Col Kemp said that in some cases, soldiers were quizzed on their doorsteps as investigators earning as much as £33 an hour out of the Ministry of Defence budget handed them a letter appealing for information.
‘The letter is being handed to them personally and they are using it is an excuse to talk to the person when they meet them,’ he said.
Some of the soldiers are not being told they are not obliged to speak. ‘It seems they are using underhand tactics to try and get these soldiers to talk,’ Col Kemp said. ‘This is exploiting their weaknesses as they are used to obeying orders.’
Some of IHAT’s concluded cases are being handed to a second body, called the Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI), which is an inquest-style inquiry looking at compensation.
Former sergeant Richard Catterall was quizzed by the IFI even after his case was thrown out by IHAT. Investigators had concluded he acted in self-defence when he shot dead an Iraqi armed with an AK-47.
 I want to make it absolutely clear that no member of the British Armed Forces will be prosecuted unless there is sufficient evidence to do so.
SPA director Andrew Cayley QC
He received a letter, seen by the Mail, from IFI investigators in July last year. He said: ‘I got a letter completely out of the blue. I was scared that I would have to revisit things that happened so long ago.’
Colonel Bob Stewart, a Tory MP, said: ‘I am fed up with efforts by ambulance-chasing lawyers and even the MoD itself, through IHAT, who dig for dirt on our soldiers in combat so that prosecutions can be brought against them. 
'The pressure put on veterans and indeed serving personnel when the representatives of such people come knocking on their doors is intolerable.
‘Going to court to defend themselves against sharp-tongued barristers is every soldier’s worst nightmare. It is utterly despicable and wrong. Why should it be hanging over their heads?’
Iraq veteran Andrew Holmes, 39, said ‘every’ soldier was looking over their shoulders and waiting for a letter. 
He said: ‘This has got to stop. There is a lot of worry among soldiers at the moment. We are obeying the rules so why are they prosecuting us?’
Asked if he had a letter, he said: ‘Not yet. Everyone will get one.’ He said if he did, he would give it back to David Cameron, ‘because I did nothing wrong’.
Last night, an IHAT spokesman confirmed the team knocked on soldiers’ doors and asked them questions. 
He added: ‘It may be that if a potential witness is at home, then the investigator will take the opportunity to ask a few questions.’