![Cameron Fronts Bid To Halt "Spurious" Iraq War Legal Claims](/sites/default/files/snipersilhouette2.jpg "Cameron Fronts Bid To Halt "Spurious" Iraq War Legal Claims")
Tri-Service
David Cameron Fronts Bid To Halt "Spurious" Iraq War Legal Claims
After recent revelations of British veterans being pursued by law firms, the Prime Minister has ordered action to bring a halt to "spurious" legal claims against soldiers who fought in the Iraq War.
Ministers on the National Security Council have been tasked with drawing up a plan to "stamp out" what the Prime Minister described as an "industry" trying to profit from servicemen.
This could involve measures to curb the use of "no win, no fee" arrangements and strengthen the authorities' investigative powers.
Other proposals are set to include speeding up a planned residence test for legal aid cases which will require claimants to have lived in the UK for 12 months.
Law firms which are found to have abused the system could also face tougher penalties under the measures being considered.
Mr Cameron said: "It is clear that there is now an industry trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen and women who fought in Iraq.
"This is unacceptable and no way to treat the people who risk their lives to keep our country safe - it has got to end.
"The National Security Council will produce a comprehensive plan to stamp out this industry, including proposals to clamp down on 'no win, no fee' schemes used by law firms, speeding up the planned legal aid residence test and strengthening investigative powers and penalties against firms found to be abusing the system.
"We will also take firm action against any firms found to have abused the system in the past to pursue fabricated claims."
The Prime Minister added: "Our armed forces are rightly held to the highest standards, but our troops must know that, when they get home from action overseas, this Government will protect them from being hounded by lawyers over claims that are totally without foundation."
Law firm Leigh Day has already been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal as a result of the failure to disclose a key document to the £31 million Al-Sweady Inquiry.
The inquiry concluded in its final report in December 2014 that allegations of war crimes following the Battle of Danny Boy on May 14 2004 in southern Iraq were based on "deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility".
Once disciplinary proceedings have been completed against any firm, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has been ordered to prepare the ground for seeking to recover as much of the taxpayers' money spent on the inquiry as possible.
The Legal Aid Agency has also been asked to review all contracts to establish whether legal aid should be restricted on an interim basis in relation to any firm under investigation for misconduct, and whether such contracts should be scrapped entirely after disciplinary proceedings have been completed.
A Downing Street source said: "It would be unprecedented for the Government to sue a law firm in this way - but if they are found to have acted improperly, then it will be the right thing to do. The public, and the soldiers who have been subject to malicious lies, would expect nothing less."
The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) has sent documents to around 280 veterans telling them they were involved in an incident under investigation.
The Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, said in a statement:
"The vast majority of UK service personnel deployed on military operations conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the law.
"The MoD takes all allegations of abuse and unlawful killing extremely seriously."
"Where there is sufficient evidence, members of HM Forces can be prosecuted."
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