DEEPCUT INQUIRY: INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF ARMY DEATHS INEVITABLE

12.07.04pm GMT Thu 4th Mar 2004

Private Geoff Gray

Speaking after today's publication of the Final Report of the Surrey Police Deepcut Investigation Final Report, Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat Spokesman for London and local Member of Parliament for the family of Private Geoff Gray, said:

"Today's Report makes the strongest possible case for an independent inquiry into the events surrounding the deaths of the four young soldiers at Deepcut Barracks.

"Although improvements to procedures have been made over the last two years they do not reduce the need for an independent investigation.

"New procedures for supervising the training of army recruits and investigating allegations of bullying, violence, injury and death must be in place and seen to be independent of the armed services.

"Nothing the Ministry of Defence can say today will make the case for an independent inquiry go away. The MoD has a duty of care to the excellent men and women of our armed forces but on this occasion they have been badly let down."

ENDS

The Report is set to be published at 11.00hrs