§ Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether British forces in Sierra Leone pursued a shoot to kill policy in recent operations against terrorist forces. [HL4247]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)UK Forces operate under clear cut Rules of Engagement which reflect UK domestic law. They may only resort to the use of lethal force when life is imminently threatened or when involved in an international armed conflict. The UK forces involved in recent operations in Sierra Leone resorted to the use of lethal force only when there was an imminent threat to life and only did so in a manner proportionate to the level of that threat.