"Give Parents Space To Think Through Deepcut Findings" - Öpik

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Mar 2006

"No parents should ever again have to go through what the Deepcut families have suffered."

Commenting on the publication of Nicholas Blake's Deepcut Review, Lembit Öpik, constituency MP for the family of Cheryl James, said: "We need to give the parents space to think through this complex set of findings.

"Nicholas Blake's report has highlighted the appalling culture that characterised the Deepcut Army Barracks and the catalogue of misconduct at the barracks. Blake found institutional failures and clear evidence of 'foul abuse of trainees.' It is evident that the army abjectly failed in its duty of care towards young recruits.

"Mr. Blake has said that the families should have full access to the evidence gathered by Surrey Police in their investigations. We have been campaigning for this for some time. It is only once this evidence has been made public that we can decide for sure whether or not a public inquiry is necessary.

"At every stage in the last ten years Des and Doreen James and the other Deepcut families have faced closed doors and smoke and mirrors. No parents should ever again have to go through what the Deepcut families have suffered.

"In light of Blake's conclusions the Ministry of Defence must implement radical reforms. The Government must adopt, as soon as possible, Nicholas Blake's recommendation an Independent Ombudsman be set up. The current complaints system is simply inadequate and in desperate need of reform."