Deepcut police slam Army

A damning report today condemned bullying and a lack of care for young recruits in the Army.

Surrey police, investigating the suspicious deaths of four soldiers at Deepcut barracks, called for an inquiry into why young recruits were at greater risk from "undetermined death, self harm and suicide."

As the report was published, it emerged that the Commons defence select committee is to carry out its own investigation into Army recruitment and training.

The long-awaited report found evidence of bullying at Deepcut and at other training centres in Britain. There was savage criticism of the Army's failure to react to concerns first raised by their own officers as long as 15 years ago.

Commenting on the report today, Surrey chief constable Denis O'Connor recognised the Army had taken steps to improve care - but suggested deaths could have been avoided. He called for an independent body or ombudsman to oversee Army training. Families of victims, and MPs, said the findings underlined calls for a full public inquiry into the deaths. The report itself calls for a "broader" inquiry.

The report stems from an investigation into the deaths from gunshot wounds of Privates Geoff Gray, 17, Sean Benton, 20, James Collinson, 17, and Cheryl James, 18. The mother of Private Collinson, Yvonne, said: "We think it's a positive thing. It's a step in the right direction. It's moving towards a public inquiry. But it still doesn't tell us how the four died."

The deaths took place at the Royal Logistics Corps base at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. In September police announced they could find no evidence of third-party involvement in the deaths, but promised a final report, published today. Investigators interviewed some 900 witnesses.

The report said: "While access to firearms and live ammunition is a prerequisite to soldiering, there is a particular threat posed by issuing arms and ammunition to young vulnerable trainees [for] guard duty."

The report, by Surrey's deputy chief constable Bob Quick, highlighted that the response to concerns about bullying and lack of care had been slow and fragmented. Only when the Deepcut victims' families and police became involved in 2002 did the Army take any action.

The report told of a woman private who woke in the night to find a corporal abusing her. When she reported the incident it was laughed off as a joke. A male private alleged he was regularly assaulted by a non-commissioned officer. Another soldier told how he considered suicide while on armed guard duty because of bullying.

Mr O'Connor, said: "One cannot help but be moved by the grief and suffering of parents and loved ones of soldiers who have died, not in combat, where the risks are understood, but in circumstances that lead to the belief these deaths could be avoided."