Page 27 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Directorate of Army

Legal Services

By Captain John Brown
Another year and further change to align with evolving Army and
Defence demands.

Directorate of Army Legal Services the physical fitness testing regime to ensure that the tests

undertaken by Regulars and Reserves are gender neutral and

June 2018 saw the announcement that Brigadier Alex Taylor reflective of military tasks; consequently, in January 2019 we
would succeed Major General Susan Ridge as Director Army shall see the introduction of the new tests for those who are
Legal Services in summer 2019 on promotion. On heading off in Ground Close Combat roles, with the non Ground Close
to the Royal College of Defence Studies in September 2018, Combat tests to follow in 2021.
Brigadier Taylor was succeeded as Head Legal Advisory by
Brigadier Jim Johnston, also on promotion. His Honour Shaun Lyons CBE, a retired Circuit Judge, is in
the process of undertaking a review of the Service Justice
Professional Training System to ensure that it continues to be necessary, fair and

efficient. Headquarters Advisory has assisted the Personnel

After many years at the Defence Academy, Shrivenham, in Capability team within Army Headquarters in responding

2018 the Army Legal Services Annual Professional Training to and commenting on the questions, findings and
took place in Building 101 in Worthy Down, exploiting the recommendations that have been received from the Review
excellent facilities now found at ‘The Home of the Corps. The Team.

support of a myriad of staff at Worthy Down, in particular
those within the Quartermasters department and other The Service Complaints team continues to deal with a
enablers, was pivotal in the success of the event and are duly heavy volume of case work. This should be assisted by the
publicly thanked. The focus this year was on the General appointment of ten new independent panel members for
Data Protection Regulations/Data Protection Act 2018, and Appeal Cases where bullying, harassment, discrimination and The Liquid

the Investigatory Powers Act. The event was rounded off by bias are alleged. This should draw down delay and speed up Ninja Warrior
Team

the annual Army Legal Services Dinner, held in the Officers’ the complaints process which is, as ever, closely monitored by
Mess, Worthy Down, at which the principal military guest was the Service Complaints Ombudsman.
Chief of Defence People and Deputy Colonel Commandant,
Lieutenant General Richard Nugee MVO CBE.
Operational Law of 3rd (United Kingdom) Division Legal Branch deploy to the
Advisory United States with the rest of the Division. There were further
The provision of Operational Law support to the Army and opportunities to improve interoperability with United States

Legal Advisory has been wrestling with work on important broader Defence remains a fundamental, and indeed increasing, Judge Advocate officers, utilising United States legal liaison

and high profile legislative changes in 2018, with long-term element of Army Legal Services work. officers within the Division and exploiting an opportunity for one

implications for the Armed Forces. The year saw the coming of our legal officers to perform a similar role within the 18 (United

into force of the Data Protection Act 2018, incorporating A number of our officers are deployed on overseas operations. States) Corps staff for part of the Exercise.

the General Data Protection Regulations. This is the most Such deployments are key to maintaining operational currency,
important change in data privacy regulation in two not only for those deployed but for the Branch generally as Service Prosecuting Authority
decades, fundamentally reshaping the way in which data is lessons are identified and experience shared through internal

handled across every sector in public life. This necessitated training. The independent Service Prosecuting Authority, based at Royal Air
considerable engagement by Headquarters Advisory with the Force Northolt, considers criminal cases and offences contrary to

wider Army to understand the implications of the new regime Support to Defence Engagement continues. A Short Term Training Service discipline, and prosecutes in the Service courts. Around 13
in order to brief and advise on the detail and impact of the new Team deployed three times this year to Uganda to provide of its prosecutors are Army Legal Services officers, and this year

law. operational law training and support to the Ugandan Peoples’ they have been involved in a variety of serious and high-profile

Defence Force. Uganda is a leading nation in the region. Short cases. With a slight increase in cases referred to the Authority
With the upcoming introduction of the ability for Regulars Term Training Teams have also deployed twice to Sudan to in 2018, and a particular increase in the number of serious
to serve flexibly, the Employment Law team of Lieutenant provide operational law training and support to the Sudanese sexual offences being referred, the team has also dealt with

Colonel Jim Carmichael and Major James Thomas continues Armed Forces. This included a Train the Trainer package which the increasing demand for advice from the Service Police at the
to be heavily engaged in the work necessary for this to will enable them to deliver its own training in due course. In earlier stages of investigations.
be implemented in April 2019. Notably, this has included addition, we also ran our annual Operational Law Course, the
assisting in the drafting of secondary legislation as well as the training audience for which included 13 international students Full advantage was taken of high quality training opportunities
development of the supporting Tri-Service and Army policy. from armed forces around the world. The Operational law with a number of officers honing their advocacy skills on the

Course provides an important opportunity to increase legal course run at Keble College, Oxford. Time was also found in
In October 2018 the Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin interoperability and for the United Kingdom more broadly to August for an office visit to the Supreme Court in London, and

Williamson, announced that with immediate effect women invest in the development of legal capabilities in countries of the Imperial War Museum. On the sporting side, the Service

will be allowed to apply for all military roles, including interest and engagement. Prosecuting Authority continued to perform well in the
frontline infantry units. The Employment Team has continued Commanding Officer’s Cup, a competition involving all units on

to advise on the introduction of Women in Ground Close Our officers have also been involved in numerous training the station, including a creditable performance in the ‘Liquid
Combat. Linked to this project has been the refinement of exercises, most notably Exercise Warfighter which saw the whole Ninja Warrior’ event.

26 27