OK, let's see 1,346 soldiers convicted for crimes in the last 6 years. Works out at an average of 224.33 each year. Roughly 15,000 British troops stationed in Northern Ireland at any given time over that period. Therefore this "criminal" element, which of course it is not, as Den admits these "crimes" include traffic offences which are civil offences not criminal, makes up 1,5% of the total contingent.

If the same percentage was applied to the British Isles as a whole on the same basis, i.e. including all those convicted of motoring offences, I think whatever government was in power would be shouting it from the rooftops, so proud would they be of their law abiding public.

Once again another disingenuous thread wracked with inaccuracies and misrepresentation.

"The crimes committed range from traffic offences to killings but do not include other offences dealt with by the Army's own internal procedures, such as some robbers and sex offenders convicted by courts martial."

Well Den, best ask for the Provost Martials figures then as they will have all the figures your 1,346 included and doubled up. Ever heard of consequential punishment Den? If you are tried before a civilian court (criminal or civil) you are also charged under military code for the offence of bringing the service into disrepute.

So courts martial deal with robbers and sex offenders do they Den? Not if the robbery was committed against a member of the public they don't, that is a civil police matter and lies outwith the jurisdiction of the military courts, in such a case the soldier would appear in front of a court martial to be dismissed the service with subsequent loss of pay and pension before he would appear before the civilian criminal court for trial and sentencing. If the robbery was committed within the service it will be dealt with within the service, normally it results in a period of time served at Colchester Detention Centre - not a nice place - very few who have ever experienced its regime ever return.

Sex Offenders Den? Define what you mean by sex offenders Den, give us some examples of sex offenders who have been tried by courts martial Den.


The Ministry of Defence has revealed that over 1,346 soldiers have been convicted of crimes during the last 6 years in N. Ireland. The crimes committed range from traffic offences to killings but do not include other offences dealt with by the Army's own internal procedures, such as some robbers and sex offenders convicted by courts martial. The convictions hit a recent high in 2003, when serving soldiers were found guilty almost every day, 300 convictions. Considering these stats were gathered during a period o