Alicia Kearns, the Member of Parliament for Rutland and Melton, has welcomed new measures to protect Armed Forces members and veterans from 'vexatious and continual attacks' through the Overseas Operations Bill.

The Bill, which had its Second Reading in the House of Commons earlier this week, changes the mechanism through which members of the Armed Forces are prosecuted for alleged offences that occurred overseas through three key changes.

Firstly, the Bill seeks to ensure prosecutors take into account the public interest in the case (where there has been a relevant investigation and no new evidence has since emerged) and to think about the conditions UK Forces are subject to while on deployment.

Secondly, it seeks to amend civil proceedings through complex legislation to impose a six-year time limit on civil proceedings in relation to personal injury. To ensure this provision is fixed in law, the discretion of Judges to allow civil proceedings out of the six-year time period will be removed through amendments to Section 7 of the Human Rights Act.

Finally, the Bill places a duty on the Secretary of State for Defence to keep under consideration protections for veterans and serving personnel in relation to any significant overseas operations.

Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said: "Rutland and Melton is home to a proud Armed Forces community, and I'm pleased that this Bill will better protect them from vexatious, continual and false attacks."

"This Bill rightly recognises the extreme difficulties our Armed Forces endure overseas to keep us safe while ensuring individuals are held to account for unacceptable and egregious crimes while on deployment. This Bill brings integrity and rigour back to the prosecution process."

The Overseas Operations Bill does not prevent the investigation of torture or any other offence. Any new evidence that comes to light regarding Armed Forces conduct will be subject to the full force of the rule of law – regardless of the time passed since the offence.

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