§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of Defence whether he proposes to undertake an inquiry with a view to disciplinary action in respect of the incident on 17 February in which members of the Parachute Regiment in a Land Rover, registration No. 94 AV 45, damaged a caravan and interfered with another vehicle; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThere were two separate incidents on 17 February. The first involved two soldiers of the Parachute Regiment, who were guarding an operational "out of bounds" area on Salisbury Plain. The two soldiers were in a Land Rover vehicle, registration No. 94 AV 45. They stopped a civilian driving a car through the prohibited area, and began to question him. The driver quite rightly told them that only MOD police had the right to question a civilian in such circumstances. He subsequently reported the matter to 3 PARA HQ, but made no formal complaint, nor did he wish for any further action to be taken. The soldiers concerned were reminded of the extent of their powers.
The second incident, during the night of 17 February involved civilian occupants of a caravan on Salisbury Plain 685W reporting to the MOD police that soldiers had picked up the caravan, moved it 10 yds, and cut a CB radio cable. The MOD police promptly investigated the incident, but the occupants of the caravan were unable to identify those concerned, and the investigation produced no evidence that soldiers had been involved. No further action was thus possible.
As both incidents were followed up at the time, I do not consider any further inquiry to be necessary.