1. 55pFriday, October 12, 2012MAINTHE VOICE OF LIVERPOOL 41,002
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PPRROOBBEEEXCLUSIVE3sacked,3demotedamid
shockallegationsatcampforMerseykids
GANGSTER
RAIDS:
ELEVEN
ARRESTS
Pages
4&5
Revealed:
stats that
prove
Baines
is best
INJURIES: Bruising on the legs of a
teenage girl cadet allegedly caused
by being repeatedly flicked with a
bungee cord
Page
2
Page
31
Cheryl Cole
rocks arena
Page
3
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NEWS Friday,October12,2012Friday,October12,20124 NEWS 5
MARINESON
MURDER
ARRESTSEVEN Royal Marines were
arrested on suspicion of
murder following an
incident in Afghanistan
during a tour of duty they
served last year, the
Ministry of Defence said.
The Royal Military Police
arrested the soldiers,
believed to be members of
3 Commando Brigade, in
connection with an incident
which occurred while they
were based in Helmand last
year.
COUNTRYTO
MARKWW1
DAVID Cameron has
promised a “truly
national commemor-
ation” to mark the
centenary of World
War I. The prime
minister said there
would be events to
mark 100 years since
the outbreak of war in
2014 Armistice Day in
2018 and the dates of
battles in between.
DENISESUFFERS
DANCEINJURY
DENISE Van Outen says it
is “touch and go” whether
she will be fit to perform
on Strictly Come Dancing
after suffering whiplash in
rehearsals. The actress was
found to be suffering mild
whiplash after she and
partner James Jordan
practised a vigorous jive.
BALIBOMBING
MEMORIAL
MORE than 100
relatives and friends of
British victims of the
Bali bombings will
gather in London today
to mark the 10th
anniversary of the
terror attacks.
BRITAIN
Briefing
BingoNumbers
Here are the bingo numbers from today’s Mirror,
Game 15 (claim deadline 4pm): 41, 60, 25, 47, 52,
7, 16, 5, 18, 87, 20. Claims must be made to the
Mirror. No responsibility can be taken by the ECHO
for any errors in this list.
Smashy’s
Smasher
A SMALL brewery
has created a special
beer to withstand
the freezing
temperatures at the
South Pole for a
group of
scientists
homesick
for their
favourite
tipple –
named
Pole-Axed.
LIBRARY
CLOSURE
PLANS:
HAVE
YOURSAYRESIDENTS will now be
asked whether seven
Merseyside libraries
should be closed to help
a council save £43.7m.
Sefton councillors
voted to consult the
public on the
controversial measures
yesterday as they
desperately attempt to
balance their books.
The idea will now be
put to reisdents during a
two-and-a-half month
process.
Libraries in
Ainsdale, Aintree,
Birkdale,
Church-
town,
Crosby,
Litherland
and Orrell
in Bootle
will be
closed over
the next
two years if the move is
given the go-ahead at
next February’s crucial
budget meeting.
Until then library
users across the
borough will be given
the opportunity to have
their say. Consultation
over the scheme is
expected to begin on
October 29 and last
through to January 14.
Council leader Cllr
Peter Dowd admitted
library closures were a
sensitive subject, but
insisted cuts had to be
made.
He said: “It is one of
those areas of public
services which does
quite rightly raise
concern and passion
from people.
“Nevertheless and
not withstanding that
we are in the situation
where in the next two
years we have to make
£43m of savings.”
Cllr
Dowd
added it
was vital
the
public
sent in
their
ideas for
library
cuts during the
consultation process
because they would be
considered.
The decision gave a
reprieve to libraries in
Formby, Bootle and
Crosby – where Crosby
Library is likely to be
saved at the expense of
the town’s College Road
facility.
All were facing the
axe in the most severe
proposals put before the
council’s cabinet at
Bootle town hall.
Log on to www.liverpool
echo.co.uk for the latest
news, sport and more
online
ARMY:ACTIONHASBEENTAKENOVERCRUELTYALLEGATIONS
THE Army today insisted it takes
the welfare of cadets “very
seriously” as it confirmed action
had been taken over the cruelty
allegations.
Here is their statement in full:
“We are aware of the events
which took place during the
Merseyside ACF annual camp.
“These have been investigated
and action has been taken.
“All those who are found to fall
short of the Army’s high standards
or who are found to have
committed an offence under the
Armed Forces Act are dealt with
administratively (up to and
including discharge) or through
the discipline process, as
appropriate.
“We are not prepared to
release any personal information
relating to this case.
“We have a common law and
data protection act duty to
protect the personal information
of our employees and there is no
good reason to release personal
information in this case.
“The Army takes duty of care
very seriously. The wellbeing of
our personnel remains
fundamental to the core values
and standards of the Armed
Forces.
“The army has zero tolerance of
bullying and all allegations are
thoroughly investigated and action
taken where necessary.
“Personnel have the right to live
and work in an environment free
from harassment, intimidation and
discrimination (Armed Forces
Diversity Policy).
“All personnel who feel they have
been mistreated or bullied have the
recourse to complain through the
chain of command or direct to the
RMP (Royal Military Police) or
civilian police.
“Individuals may also speak to
the padre, welfare staff or ring the
confidential support line.
“All commanders are made fully
aware of their responsibility to
protect others from the differing
forms of harassment, physical and
mental intimidation and
discrimination, and any suspicion of
bullying should be dealt with
immediately.
“This is reinforced throughout all
military training.”
Teenagecadets
‘tied&whipped’
EXCITEMENT: Some of the 400 Merseyside cadets ahead of the trip to the annual summer camp in Sussex
TEENAGE Merseyside army
cadets were whipped and tied up
as part of a catalogue of abuse
handed out by adult instructors,
it was claimed today.
Both police and council
officers are investigating
allegations that young recruits
were bullied, hurt and
humiliated at an annual camp.
The ECHO understands that
recruits were allegedly whipped
with elastic cords, forced to
crawl across rubble on bare
knees, tied up with tape and had
water poured over them.
Disturbing photos show a
female recruit with extensive
bruising to her legs. Army
chiefs are probing claims she
was “flicked” repeatedly with a
bungee cord.
Three adult instructors have
been sacked and three more
demoted in rank after an
internal probe carried out at the
Altcar-based Merseyside Army
Cadet Force (MACF).
Sergeant instructors Dave
Swords, Paul Delane and Lee
Lundy were dismissed following
complaints from cadets and
their parents.
Other volunteer staff – named
as sergeant instructors Gillison,
Curfy and Robinson – have been
demoted for at least two years.
Files have now been passed to
Sefton council’s designated
child welfare officer for review
after the NSPCC was contacted.
They are alerted to all cases in
which it is alleged that a person
who works with under-18s has
possibly committed a criminal
offence against them.
Sussex police is investigating
the alleged assault of a teenage
girl.
The allegations surround
August’s trip to the national
cadet camp in Crowborough,
Sussex, attended by around 400
young recruits from MACF,
which has 34 detachments
across Merseyside.
But it was claimed a number
of senior cadets – aged between
15-17 – were subjected to abuse.
“They [the cadets] were
beasted by the adults,” a source
said. “No one knew until on the
coaches back home. Cadets had
photographed their injuries.
“The kids had been bullied,
whipped, flicked with bungees,
had water poured down their
necks as punishment and were
made to do stupid things.”
In the fall-out over the
allegations, an emergency
meeting was held in Walton last
month.
One concerned senior MACF
member, retired police officer
Nick Wilkinson, wrote an email
to his superiors – leaked to the
ECHO – “with a view to urgently
seeking advice from the army
legal service”.
He said that while he did not
attend the camp and was not
directly involved with the
investigation, he had seen
pictures of injuries sustained by
some of the cadets.
He wrote: “Based on the
low-level information available
to me and my past experience in
viewing injuries corroborated
by sworn account in criminal
courts, I feel able to say that they
are consistent with a person
being ‘flicked’ with a bungee
cord.
“Very disturbing is evidence
of an excessive number of
strikes. With no other
explanation it would be easy to
conclude that they were
administered as torture.
“This is aggravated by the
victims being juveniles and the
allegation that the injuries were
inflicted by adults responsible
for their safety and well-being.”
Major Tony Kirkpatrick, a
child protection officer at
MACF, told the ECHO he was
unwilling to comment on the
allegations.
But in a letter to colleagues,
dated October 1, he told of the
results of the disciplinary
hearings and said the matter
had now been passed over to
Sefton’s child welfare officer.
Signing off the letter Major
Kirkpatrick admitted: “Finally,
and for the last time, we did get it
wrong and as an organisation
we need and want to learn from
our mistakes.”
The army cadets force is one
of the country’s oldest and
largest voluntary youth
organisations. Cadets
undertake community and
military activities and work
towards Duke of Edinburgh
awards, BTEC and First Aid
qualifications.
An Army spokesman said the
allegations made had been
“investigated and dealt with”.
Sussex police confirmed a
report of child cruelty was being
looked into.
A spokesman said: “On
September 16, Sussex Police
received a telephoned report
alleging that army cadets from
Merseyside had been assaulted
whilst at Crowborough Army
Camp in August this year.
“The matter has been looked
into and we have liaised with
Merseyside police.
“We have now just received
one complaint of alleged assault
on a teenage girl whilst she was
at the camp.
“Full details in writing of this
complaint are still awaited but it
will be investigated, as would
any other such complaints if
received in the future.”
A spokesman for Sefton
council said: “We have recently
been made aware of allegations
which have been made
anonymously via the NSPCC.”
The ECHO spoke to sacked
Sergeant Paul Delane but he
declined to comment and
directed inquiries to the Army.
None of the other named staff
could be contacted.
BASE: Altcar training camp in Hightown
Threesacked
inarmycadet
crueltyprobe
BRUISES:
Injuries
sustained by
a girl at the
camp are
being
investigated
by police.
Inset, the
cadets line
up for a
photograph
at Crowbor-
ough
EXCLUSIVE
By JOHN SIDDLE
by JOE THOMAS
BRITISHGAS
PRICESTORISE
BRITISH GAS delivered a
blow to millions of
households today by
confirming it will hike gas
and electricity tariffs by 6%
from next month.
Centrica-owned British
Gas said the annual dual
fuel bill for British Gas
customers with average
consumption will increase
by around £80 to £1,238.
BBCTOANSWER
SAVILEQUERY
BBC director-general
George Entwistle has
asked a senior
colleague to answer
journalists’ questions on
the dropping of a
documentary about Sir
Jimmy Savile. Ken
MacQuarrie, director of
BBC Scotland, will
speak to Newsnight
journalists about the
aborted broadcast after
several of them wrote
to Mr Entwistle to ask
why the film was not
aired, a BBC
spokesman confirmed.
APRILSEARCH
TOCONTINUE
SEARCH teams looking for
five-year-old April Jones
have pledged to continue
looking for the little girl
while they still have “viable
lines of inquiry” following a
meeting with her parents.
Paul and Coral Jones met
officers on Wednesday as
they continued efforts to
find April who it is feared
has been murdered.
April has been missing
since October 1 when she
vanished while playing with
other children in the mid
Wales town Machynlleth.
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