New anti-bullying chief appointed

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Dr Susan Atkins will take up her post on January 1 next year, armed forces minister Bob Ainsworth announced.

Her appointment follows the independent review by human rights lawyer Nicholas Blake QC into the deaths of four young army recruits at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey amid allegations of abuse and bullying.

The new Commissioner will be able to take up complaints of harassment in the services and refer them to officers higher in the chain of command for investigation.

However, she will lack the powers of a full independent ombudsman - with the right to mount her own investigations - as called for by the House of Commons Defence Committee and the Blake Review.

Dr Atkins said: "The Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence have signalled their commitment to having a rigorous, independent and transparent scrutiny of the complaints system.

"They have also understood the need for an alternative route of access for service personnel and their families. I shall hold them to their word.

"I am determined to ensure that all servicemen and women and their families have confidence in the complaints process and are treated properly."

Privates Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings; Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, north Wales; James Collinson, 17, from Perth; and Geoff Gray, 17, from Seaham, Co Durham, all died of gunshot wounds between 1995 and 2002 following claims of widespread bullying and abuse.

Inquests into the deaths recorded a verdict of suicide in Pte Benton's case and open verdicts for the other three.