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| Top army bomb squad officer quits | Top army bomb squad officer quits |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Army's top bomb disposal officer has resigned, the MoD has said. | The Army's top bomb disposal officer has resigned, the MoD has said. |
| The BBC understands from army sources that Colonel Bob Seddon, of the Royal Logistic Corps, quit over fears bomb disposal training could be compromised. | The BBC understands from army sources that Colonel Bob Seddon, of the Royal Logistic Corps, quit over fears bomb disposal training could be compromised. |
| There has been pressure on the Army to produce more bomb-disposal experts quickly as a result of the threat of roadside bombs in Afghanistan. | There has been pressure on the Army to produce more bomb-disposal experts quickly as a result of the threat of roadside bombs in Afghanistan. |
| An Army spokesman said it "remains committed to the counter improvised explosive device effort". | An Army spokesman said it "remains committed to the counter improvised explosive device effort". |
| Soldier 'shortage' | Soldier 'shortage' |
| BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the resignation may have been partly motivated by fears that pressures within the Army to do more to fight the threat from roadside bombs could lead to soldiers being sent to the front line with less training. | BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the resignation may have been partly motivated by fears that pressures within the Army to do more to fight the threat from roadside bombs could lead to soldiers being sent to the front line with less training. |
| In an interview with the BBC's Panorama, Col Seddon, who held the post of principal ammunition technical officer, said he was concerned about the impact on his team of a shortage of soldiers trained to defuse homemade explosives. | In an interview with the BBC's Panorama, Col Seddon, who held the post of principal ammunition technical officer, said he was concerned about the impact on his team of a shortage of soldiers trained to defuse homemade explosives. |
| He also said he is also worried about the length of tours and the lack of rest for his elite unit. | He also said he is also worried about the length of tours and the lack of rest for his elite unit. |
| He was interviewed for the programme - which is due to be broadcast later - by Christina Schmid, the widow of Staff Sergeant Oz Schmid, who was killed in Afghanistan in October 2009. | He was interviewed for the programme - which is due to be broadcast later - by Christina Schmid, the widow of Staff Sergeant Oz Schmid, who was killed in Afghanistan in October 2009. |
| Col Seddon, who won a Queen's Commendation for Bravery in Iraq in 2006, said: "I'm very concerned that in the longer term that some of my people who have done phenomenally difficult and dangerous work in Afghanistan may pay a deeper psychological price for the work that they've conducted." | |
| He said measures are in place to bring in more explosives experts but it takes at least six years to fully train a specialist operator, meaning the pressure on existing units is not easily abated. | He said measures are in place to bring in more explosives experts but it takes at least six years to fully train a specialist operator, meaning the pressure on existing units is not easily abated. |
| "It means the existing cohort are going to be under pressure." | "It means the existing cohort are going to be under pressure." |
| 11 EOD Regiment lost two of their most experienced men during their last tour of Helmand - Staff Sgt Schmid and Captain Dan Read. | 11 EOD Regiment lost two of their most experienced men during their last tour of Helmand - Staff Sgt Schmid and Captain Dan Read. |
| The Ministry of Defence said steps are being taken to recruit more soldiers to the job. | The Ministry of Defence said steps are being taken to recruit more soldiers to the job. |
| The Army has begun to offer £50,000 payments to top bomb disposal soldiers willing to sign on for another tour of duty in Afghanistan in a bid to ease the pressure on the units already deployed. | The Army has begun to offer £50,000 payments to top bomb disposal soldiers willing to sign on for another tour of duty in Afghanistan in a bid to ease the pressure on the units already deployed. |
| In a statement to the BBC, the MoD admitted guidelines for rest periods and the length of tours had been broken in Afghanistan. | In a statement to the BBC, the MoD admitted guidelines for rest periods and the length of tours had been broken in Afghanistan. |
| "Unfortunately at a time of high operational commitment, breaches of harmony guidelines do occur but we are taking steps to address the situation." | "Unfortunately at a time of high operational commitment, breaches of harmony guidelines do occur but we are taking steps to address the situation." |
| Panorama: A Very British Hero, BBC One, Monday 24 May at 2030BST | Panorama: A Very British Hero, BBC One, Monday 24 May at 2030BST |