Today’s news summary covers the conclusion of a rape trial, defence spending, Help for Heroes and recognition for the Army and Royal Navy as some of the top employers of women
RAPE TRIAL
The Times, Guardian, Daily Star, Daily Mail and Sun cover yesterday’s acquittal of Corporals Thomas Fulton and Jeremy Jones for the rape of Cpl Anne-Marie Ellement in November 2009. Cpl Ellement committed suicide at Bulford Barracks in Wiltshire in October 2011, two years after alleging that she had been raped while stationed in Sennelager, Germany. Her rape allegation had been investigated by military police prior to her death however prosecutors determined there was not a realistic prospect of conviction. The case was reopened in 2013 and led to the court case that concluded yesterday. The Army’s statement on the case is below.
Today Ex-Corporals Fulton and Jones have been acquitted of the rape of Corporal Anne-Marie Ellement. Quite rightly we take any allegation of rape or sexual assault extremely seriously and there is no place in a modern Armed Forces for bullying, harassment or criminal behaviour of any sort, including sexual assault.
As with any instance where the Service Prosecuting Authority or Crown Prosecution Service decides there is a case to be answered, it is right that these allegations are scrutinised in court and we fully respect the court martial’s decision. Our thoughts remain with Cpl Ellement’s family and friends at this time.
DEFENCE SPENDING
The Times, Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail cover the Defence Committee’s report on the Government’s commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence. Some papers carry the Commons committee’s call to ‘come clean about creative accounting’ methods they allege were used to meet the commitment. The MOD’s response to the report is below.
The Committee’s own report confirms that all UK spending on defence including intelligence, cyber and war pensions falls firmly within NATO’s guidelines. When defence spending will increase by £5 billion over this parliament it is nonsense to suggest there is no new funding. Our plans will deliver more ships, more planes, more troops at readiness, better equipment for special forces, and more on cyber to help Britain safe.
TOP 50 EMPLOYERS
The British Army and Royal Navy have been named in a Times supplement as two of Britain’s top 50 employers of women. The Army is a new entrant in the list and personnel director Major General Rob Nitsch said in an interview they have made major progress in recent years and are immensely proud to have been included. He told the newspaper:
We must develop policies that resonate with the traditions of the institution, without alienating people in it, and must reflect the society we represent. This is not about political correctness. This is about bringing the very best talent from across society and nurturing and developing them.
The Army has said previously:
General Sir Nicholas Carter, Head of the British Army, has supported an increasingly flexible approach to workforce employment for years in his organisation. His ‘Maximising Talent’ change programme ensures that talent is able to thrive in the Army, regardless of ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.
HELP FOR HEROES
The Sun carries a short piece on founders Bryn and Emma Parry stepping down from the charity after 10 years. It reports that Prime Minister David Cameron expressed a debt of gratitude to them for their work supporting injured armed forces personnel.
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There are three things you need to know about Corporal Rebecca Smith: she comes from Grimsby, she’s covered in tattoos and she fixes tanks for the British Army. So what does she have in common with The Queen? For a start, The Queen also served as a mechanic in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), and she shares her birthday on 21 April.