Hundreds seeking compensation are filmed covertly to see if they're lying
Wounded soldiers seeking compensation for their injuries are being secretly filmed to check whether they are lying about their condition.
The Ministry of Defence has ordered its legal teams to make use of Big Brother undercover spying powers originally drawn up to deal with counter-terrorism.
All injured servicemen and women claiming compensation from the MoD have been sent letters via their solicitors threatening them with covert surveillance.
They are warned that their case will be passed to the MoD police to consider prosecution if there is suspicion of fraud.
Yesterday the ministry confirmed that since 2000 it had carried out such surveillance on almost 300 injured personnel who sought damages through the civil courts.
The disclosure sparked astonishment and outrage.
Senior military commanders, MPs and campaigners said it was a national disgrace and demanded to know why ministers had sanctioned such treatment of soldiers who risked their lives in wars, and paid a terrible price in physical and mental trauma.
Wounded soldiers voiced disgust at what they saw as intimidatory tactics designed to frighten mentally traumatised claimants into dropping their cases.
One former soldier who was left physically and mentally shattered by a mortar bomb in Basra said his warning letter had left him feeling like a benefits cheat instead of a once-proud soldier, and that he now struggled to gather the confidence to leave his home.
MoD covertly films hundreds of wounded soldiers seeking compensation to see if they're lying | Mail Online
Lord Guthrie, the former head of the armed forces, said: I find this extraordinary, but sadly it is rather typical of the attitude in the Ministry of Defence and Whitehall.
Solicitor Hilary Meredith, who acts for 200 clients seeking damages from the MoD, said she was astonished by the letters, adding: This is a national disgrace and must be stopped with immediate effect.
British soldiers are risking their lives and suffering horrendous injuries around the world. Is this how they deserve to be treated when they return home?
She added: We act for people with amputations, burns, shrapnel wounds, paralysis. Some are young men who will need constant care for the rest of their lives.
Many have psychological problems which dont show up on covert video footage. They are the most reluctant litigants you can imagine.
Instead of trying to penny-pinch and trip these people up, perhaps the MoD could spend the money on kitting them out properly.
Thanks to the British media for speaking out when those that serve cannot.