![Investigation Into British Soldiers Has "Spun Out Of Control"](/sites/default/files/Army%20Soldiers%20Sunset%20Silhouette_0.jpg "Investigation Into British Soldiers Has "Spun Out Of Control"")
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Investigation Into British Soldiers Has "Spun Out Of Control"
David Cameron has expressed his "deep concern" at the prospect of British veterans of the Iraq War facing persistent threats of prosecution years after the conflict ended.
It comes after a former Armed Forces Minister claimed that the investigation into allegations against British soldiers who served in Iraq, which he set up in 2010, has ‘spun out of control’.
Liberal Democrat Sir Nick Harvey has spoken out about the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT), which was assembled in 2010 to examine claims that British troops mistreated Iraqi citizens.
It was originally looking at 152 cases, but that's now risen to 1,500.
After letters were sent to around 280 people questioning their role in claims of torture, some of those who served in Iraq said they're worried about being pursued by 'ambulance-chasing' lawyers.
Sir Harvey says he has some sympathy with those views, and that IHAT has lost sight of why it was set up.
The Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, released the following statement:
"It is a matter for law firms and their clients to decide whether to make compensation claims.
"The MoD contests vigorously claims which it does not believe to be valid and does everything appropriate to safeguard the legitimate interests of the taxpayer."
"The government is also considering ways to reduce the burden on the armed forces of false claims. "
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