Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Monday, 30 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 December 2009. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 December 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of allegations of rape involving members of (a) UK forces and (b) private security firms registered in the UK in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan since 2001; and what steps he has taken in response to those reports.

Answer: In respect of UK Forces only, the information is not held in the format requested.Any allegation of an offence involving UK Forces is fully investigated by the relevant Service Police authorities and if there is sufficient evidence to refer a disciplinary or criminal charge they will do so in accordance with the Armed Forces Act of 2006.Private security firms are not the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence and as such are not subject to military law where the service police have jurisdiction.

Secondary information