Johnny Mercer said that all inquiries conducted by a Royal Military Police unit specially set up under the codename Operation Northmoor had been completed and no charges would be brought.
The announcement means no more veterans will be taken to court over the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, dating back almost two decades.
At its peak, Operation Northmoor was investigating 675 criminal allegations made by 159 separate complainants.
Mr Mercer, a former Army captain who served in Afghanistan, said: “I’ve said this Government is going to war on Lawfare, and I meant it. This is another significant moment as we retake ground ceded over the years to those who seek to rewrite history and line their own pockets, with no regard at all for the damage they have done to some of our nation’s finest people.
“We now know that none of the historical allegations from Afghanistan have led to prosecutions, and that most of the compensation claims were eventually withdrawn.
“I recognise this has meant that many of our remarkable Armed Forces have been living under the unique burden of vexatious claims and a cycle of seemingly endless reinvestigation.”
The MoD said that Operation Northmoor was closed down after “a thorough and independent investigation, in which all reasonable and proportionate lines of enquiry were pursued”. It said it had found “insufficient evidence to refer any personnel to prosecutors” and that the decision was taken after consultation with the Director of Service Prosecutions.
Mr Mercer said “We want the Overseas Operations Bill to break that cycle, acknowledging the problems of the past and providing certainty for the future.
“It will provide a more robust legal framework for addressing allegations arising from any future overseas conflicts and ensure that we deliver this Government’s vision for the UK to be the best place in the world to be a veteran.”
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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