Non-combatant victims of injuries by British soldiers must be able to seek compensation, says Geoffrey Bindman QC
The prime minister has pledged to work to end what he calls “hounding” of service personnel by claimant lawyers. Michael Gove has echoed this promise by telling us he will include suitable provisions in his projected “Bill of Rights”. Claimant lawyers are already subject to the disciplinary codes of the profession and the arraignment of two firms before the Solicitors’ Disciplinary TribunaI for alleged breaches of that code in relation to alleged ill-treatment of Iraqi citizens has prompted the prime minister’s intervention.
Importance of compensation
We must take seriously any threat to restrict the legal liability of those who cause harm to others to compensate their victims for the consequences of their acts or omissions. Redress for the injured victims of wrongdoing, whether deliberate or negligent is an honourable and important function of our legal system. Compensation provides a measure of justice for the injured. But it has been achieved only through long years of struggle. It must not now be arbitrarily restricted.
We learned at law
