'Army has no future if these laws become the norm'

Forged by the common sense values of his mining community, he rose to become one of the linchpins of his SAS unit. But now George Simm tells defence editor MARCO GIANNANGELI Britain's military prowess faces a huge unprecedented threat from human rights legislation

- MARCO GIANNANGELI

HE WAS twice decorated for bravery as he helped to extinguish political fires across the globe. But now George Simm DCM fears for the future of Britain's military prowess after a political decision to place European human rights over established international law.

Though bound by strict secrecy rules, the former SAS Regimental Sergeant Major, 70, has decided to speak about his time with the "Who Dares Wins" regiment because of fears its soldiers are beginning to question whether they can get the job done.

And with a real prospect of war between Nato and Russia looming, his message has never been more important.

"Applying the European Convention on Human Rights to military operations makes no sense - it is a clear misapplication of its initial intent. If it becomes the norm there's no future for any army," warns George from his home in Northumberland.

"Politicians need to explain this to the public. You simply can't fight a war where there's potential for loss of life under the shadow of an autopsy that will see that loss of life used against you in endless vexatious and mendacious claims and accusations."

It follows mounting concerns the ever-tightening stronghold of European human rights laws is impacting the ability to carry out "kill-or-capture" missions against "High Value Targets".

"There is a prevailing sense cuts to our defence posture are already forcing us to fight with just one arm, and human rights legislation has that arm tied behind our backs," said a senior Army source.

George's success in "the unit" seems all the more remarkable given he has "never really liked guns". His 30-year career took him from the streets of Northern Ireland to the mountains of Oman, the jungles of Colombia and the deserts of Iraq.

Raised in the coastal town of Newbiggin, his influences were the miners who rejected the occupation's reserved status to fight during the Second World War.