Tri-Service

Decorated Ex Army Officer Speaks Out Against IHAT Investigation

Decorated former Army officer Rachel Webster has publicly called on Theresa May to put an end to the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT).

Webster has branded the investigation a ‘bloated, discredited and damaging witch hunt’ against British troops.

IHAT has been investigating the alleged abuse towards Iraqi civilians carried out by UK military personnel over a decade ago.

Ms Webster, who rose to the rank of captain and completed four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, was targeted herself by the investigators and has subsequently chosen to take legal action after reportedly being roughly treated and humiliated.

She was arrested and physically restrained in her own home during a dawn raid in 2014.

She has called on the Prime Minster to stop IHAT continuing its operations "to avoid any further damage to military personnel" in the run-up to Christmas.

She was present as a statement was read out on her behalf at the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, saying:

"Christmas is a difficult time for the armed services and their families and this is not helped by the ongoing and unnecessary Ihat investigations.
"Rachel firmly believes that the British armed forces are the best in the world and yet they have faced thousands of unwarranted allegations of criminal conduct."

Soon after the statement was read, Ms Webster, who was wearing her military service medals, broke down in tears.

The statement recalls that Mrs May recently said "the bravest of the brave would be protected"

Ms Webster has previously been praised for her own 24 years of military service, receiving a commander’s commendation in Kosovo for her work with rape victims, as well as being rewarded for her efforts in rebuilding schools in Basra.

The statement said the Attorney General was asked to name another country that had an IHAT or a similar organisation - "he couldn't because IHAT is a very British aberration".

The statement continues:

"It's as if those charged with looking after the health and welfare of troops at home have been found sleeping on their watch, waking up - two years too late for Rachel - to find that Ihat has mutated into an unstoppable, double-jeopardy juggernaut running dangerously out of control.
"IHAT has been complicit in the needless investigation of thousands of military personnel, interrupting their lives and frazzling the mental health of those put under its spotlight."

The statement argues IHAT has become "like a dog with a bone that just won't let go" and is not the right method of carrying out such an investigation.

The statement adds that IHAT "ludicrously suggests that the European Court and the International Criminal Court are forcing it to pursue trumped up claims from discredited lawyers".

The statement ends by saying:

"Rachel calls for an end to this self-inflicted military fiasco and that an inquiry be ordered to see what went so badly wrong.
"She calls upon the Prime Minister, an honourable woman who, like Rachel, has spent her whole life defending British values and protecting British lives, to shut down Ihat now and put an end to this bloated, discredited and damaging witch hunt. "
Former Army officer and Tory MP Johnny Mercer, who is leading a parliamentary inquiry into Ihat, received a tribute in Ms Webster's statement "for his fantastic work in bringing Ihat to book".

Ms Webster, who was personally praised by Tony Blair for her work in Iraq, was arrested in the early hours at her home by IHAT officers on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

She was taken to Portsmouth and spent hours being questioned before being released without charge.