Nuclear Veterans' Fight for Justice: Mayor Sadiq Khan Backs Investigation into British State Allegations

Strategic Insights -

London's Mayor Sadiq Khan has written to nuclear veteran campaigners in support of their fight for a police investigation into alleged crimes by the British state. The campaign stems from a hidden program of blood and urine testing on troops ordered to participate in nuclear weapons testing during the Cold War. A 500-page dossier provided evidence of the biological monitoring, which was concealed behind national security at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. Despite a criminal complaint filed by the families with the Metropolitan Police in May, the force refused to investigate, citing the jurisdiction of Thames Valley Police.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Met Police refused to investigate a 500-page dossier of evidence provided by nuclear veteran families, citing jurisdiction issues despite allegations centering on the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall.
  • The dossier alleged that biological monitoring was hidden behind national security at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, with evidence showing chest x-rays were conducted without clinical reason and troops gave no consent to be part of the weapons experiments.
  • Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote personally to nuclear veteran campaigners, expressing his "gratitude" to those who served and ordering staff to contact the Met Police to urge the investigation to proceed.
  • Thames Valley Police has been informed by the Mayor's office that it will take "a considerable time due to the amount of information" to review the evidence dossier.
  • Nuclear veteran families have accused the Met Police of "refusing to investigate its neighbours," fearing political repercussions of a criminal inquiry.
  • The 2021 open letter signed by Mayor Khan and seven other metro mayors called for "truth and justice" for nuclear veterans, stating that they "served on the most dangerous of operations thousands of miles from home, where they were exposed to life-threatening levels of radiation."
  • The letter highlighted that the government has denied them compensation for medical conditions and failed to provide them with the adequate opportunities they deserve.

Statistics:

  • A 500-page dossier was submitted to the Metropolitan Police in May as part of a criminal complaint by nuclear veteran families.
  • The dossier alleged that thousands of troops were subject to orders for biological monitoring during nuclear weapons testing in the Cold War.
  • Thames Valley Police has confirmed it is in the early stages of reviewing the evidence dossier and will take a considerable time due to the amount of information.

Sources:

  • [Letter from Mayor Sadiq Khan to nuclear veteran campaigners, exact wording and date not explicitly mentioned]
  • [Mirror investigation, 3-year investigation, exact wording and dates not explicitly mentioned]
  • [2021 Open letter signed by Mayor Sadiq Khan and 7 other metro mayors, exact wording and date mentioned]