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| Army apologises to family of young soldier who died at Deepcut | Army apologises to family of young soldier who died at Deepcut |
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| The welfare of young British army recruits was neglected at a time of defence cuts and large-scale reorganisation, an inquest into the death of one of four soldiers found shot dead at a training barracks has heard. | The welfare of young British army recruits was neglected at a time of defence cuts and large-scale reorganisation, an inquest into the death of one of four soldiers found shot dead at a training barracks has heard. |
| A senior officer told the inquest on Thursday that the ratio of instructors to trainees fell as low as one to 200 at Deepcut barracks in Surrey, when the ideal is one to 12. | A senior officer told the inquest on Thursday that the ratio of instructors to trainees fell as low as one to 200 at Deepcut barracks in Surrey, when the ideal is one to 12. |
| The shortage of non-commissioned officers may have led to some being aggressive during training, Brig Christopher Coles, the head of the army personnel services group said. | The shortage of non-commissioned officers may have led to some being aggressive during training, Brig Christopher Coles, the head of the army personnel services group said. |
| A picture of neglect of the welfare of young recruits emerged at the inquest into the death of Pte Sean Benton, 20, the first of four recruits to be found shot dead at Deepcut between June 1995 and March 2002. | A picture of neglect of the welfare of young recruits emerged at the inquest into the death of Pte Sean Benton, 20, the first of four recruits to be found shot dead at Deepcut between June 1995 and March 2002. |
| Coles, who was not involved in the command of Deepcut, said a decision had been taken during a defence review to “redirect pressurised resources” towards front line requirements, which meant that other activity, such as training, received less. | Coles, who was not involved in the command of Deepcut, said a decision had been taken during a defence review to “redirect pressurised resources” towards front line requirements, which meant that other activity, such as training, received less. |
| He said he wanted to apologise to Benton’s sister and twin brother, and he said he regretted that their parents, who have died, could not hear his apology. | He said he wanted to apologise to Benton’s sister and twin brother, and he said he regretted that their parents, who have died, could not hear his apology. |
| “Quite a number of things could and should have been done better at the time of Sean’s death,” he said. “The set-up at Deepcut and ratio of instructors and trainees was not as it should have been and not as it would be now. That led to the risk that people training at Deepcut – that their welfare was not properly attended do.” | “Quite a number of things could and should have been done better at the time of Sean’s death,” he said. “The set-up at Deepcut and ratio of instructors and trainees was not as it should have been and not as it would be now. That led to the risk that people training at Deepcut – that their welfare was not properly attended do.” |
| Young men and women and recruits of different ages were being trained together for the first time during the mid 1990s, Coles said, and civilian police investigators later heard complaints of bullying by fellow recruits and instructors. | Young men and women and recruits of different ages were being trained together for the first time during the mid 1990s, Coles said, and civilian police investigators later heard complaints of bullying by fellow recruits and instructors. |
| He said that trainee soldiers who had self-harmed were still handed firearms and ammunition when on guard duty, unless they had received a formal “medical downgrade” that prohibited this. | He said that trainee soldiers who had self-harmed were still handed firearms and ammunition when on guard duty, unless they had received a formal “medical downgrade” that prohibited this. |
| The problem of inadequate resources to ensure trainees’ welfare was compounded during the merger of several different army units into Benton’s unit, the Royal Logistic Corps, where men and women were serving together for the first time. | The problem of inadequate resources to ensure trainees’ welfare was compounded during the merger of several different army units into Benton’s unit, the Royal Logistic Corps, where men and women were serving together for the first time. |
| Coles added that the policy of issuing firearms to individual sentries had since been changed, but said this “came much too late in the day”. | Coles added that the policy of issuing firearms to individual sentries had since been changed, but said this “came much too late in the day”. |
| The inquest in Woking, Surrey, heard there was about one instructor for 100 trainees during the day at Deepcut, but that fell to about one for 200 at night. Some trainees drank to excess in the evening. | The inquest in Woking, Surrey, heard there was about one instructor for 100 trainees during the day at Deepcut, but that fell to about one for 200 at night. Some trainees drank to excess in the evening. |
| Benton, from Hastings, East Sussex, had been told that he was to be discharged from the army. His family says he became withdrawn before his death and told them he had been deeply humiliated by being shackled and forced to parade around a canteen. | Benton, from Hastings, East Sussex, had been told that he was to be discharged from the army. His family says he became withdrawn before his death and told them he had been deeply humiliated by being shackled and forced to parade around a canteen. |
| After persuading a fellow soldier that he was relieving her on guard duty and asking her to hand over her rifle, he was found dead with five bullet wounds across his torso. | After persuading a fellow soldier that he was relieving her on guard duty and asking her to hand over her rifle, he was found dead with five bullet wounds across his torso. |
| Following a military police investigation, an inquest was held the next month. It lasted two hours and heard from six witnesses before the coroner recorded a suicide verdict. | Following a military police investigation, an inquest was held the next month. It lasted two hours and heard from six witnesses before the coroner recorded a suicide verdict. |
| The second new inquest was ordered by the high court following a campaign by Benton’s family and their lawyers from the human rights group Liberty. It is expected to last two months and will hear from 161 witnesses. | The second new inquest was ordered by the high court following a campaign by Benton’s family and their lawyers from the human rights group Liberty. It is expected to last two months and will hear from 161 witnesses. |
| Five months after Benton’s death, Pte Cheryl James, 18, was found with a bullet wound to her head at Deepcut. A fresh inquest concluded in 2016 that she committed suicide. Seventeen year olds Geoff Gray and James Collinson were found shot dead in 2001 and 2002. | Five months after Benton’s death, Pte Cheryl James, 18, was found with a bullet wound to her head at Deepcut. A fresh inquest concluded in 2016 that she committed suicide. Seventeen year olds Geoff Gray and James Collinson were found shot dead in 2001 and 2002. |