Mark Whitehead 10 November 2014

Council demands independent inquiry into alleged attacks by Libyan cadets

Cambridge City Council has demanded a full independent inquiry into circumstances surrounding recent alleged sexual attacks involving Libyan cadet soldiers.

Council leader, Cllr Lewis Herbert, has warned a government review into the alleged attacks by soldiers at nearby barracks would not be sufficiently thorough and transparent.

About 300 cadets have been sent home early from Bassingbourn Barracks after the allegations and five have been charged.

The former Libyan militiamen arrived in June for a six-month training course as part of a pledge by the Government to help shape the North African country’s security forces.

Following the events prime minister, David Cameron, told the House of Commons the Libyans’ conduct was unacceptable and said none of the cadets should be granted asylum here.

He said the government programme to train Libya’s army would be scrapped and all the trainees deported.

However Cllr Herbert has written to Mr Cameron demanding the inquiry.

He said: 'We do not have confidence that the internal review announced by the government, and led by the Chief of the General Staff, will be sufficiently thorough and transparent.

'We feel it will suffer from limited terms of reference and inadequate objectivity.

'We will be compiling a detailed list of issues the local community wants addressed in an inquiry and we are asking residents to send in their comments to us.'

Selling the family silver image

Selling the family silver

Ryan Swift, research fellow at IPPR North, urges the next Government to stop the mass sell off of council assets.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Market Quality & Sustainability

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£67,290 - £70,710
Royal Greenwich Integrated Commissioning are looking for a skilled and experienced leader Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Programme Officer - WMF1088e

Westmorland and Furness Council
£35,745 - £36,648
The Capital Programme team is responsible for the core delivery of the Council’s c.£60m/year Capital Programme Cumbria / Countywide
Recuriter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Asylum Lead Officer - WMF1080e

Westmorland and Furness Council
£33,945 - £34,834
Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to supporting asylum seekers Barrow in Furness, Cumbria
Recuriter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Locality Officer Level 3 WMF1091e

Westmorland and Furness Council
£32,076 - £33,024
Westmorland and Furness Council is an ambitious authority. Kendal, Cumbria
Recuriter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Head of Commissioning Management

Derbyshire County Council
Grade 15 £59,559 - £65,327
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services Derbyshire
Recuriter: Derbyshire County Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.