15.1 | Civilian personnel

375.  Protected mobility is addressed in more detail in Section 12.1.

376.  On 16 December, DFID officials recommended to Mr Benn a number of changes

to transport arrangements in Basra, including use of Warrior armoured vehicles by

DFID staff for mission‑critical visits to certain sites in southern Iraq.263 Until then, DFID

staff had travelled in civilian rather than military vehicles because of their lower profile,

consistent with the nature of DFID’s work.

377.  Officials advised Mr Benn that:

“… the continuing threat from EFPs in southern Iraq fundamentally compromises our

ability to complete important projects, particularly in the power and water sectors at

acceptable levels of risk.”

378.  Three days later, FCO officials recommended to Mr Straw “a safe and measured

return to road moves” for civilian staff in the South “in order to fully promote HMG

objectives”.264 They proposed that, subject to regular review:

• all civilian staff be allowed to travel in Warrior armoured fighting vehicles within

Basra, where there was a significant risk from armour piercing roadside bombs;

• UK civilian police officers be able to travel with contracted British Iraqi Police

Advisers in their FCO armoured vehicles, escorted by UK military Snatch Land

Rovers; and

• road moves in FCO armoured vehicles should restart along the main road from

Basra Airport to Nasiriyah and Basra Airport to Kuwait.

379.  Mr Straw approved the recommendations on 9 January 2006, provided the rules

were subject to regular review.265

380.  On 12 January, Mr Straw told DOP(I) that he remained concerned about the need

to maintain staff morale, particularly in Basra. All departments needed to keep staff

morale and welfare under review.266

381.  On 2 February, DFID officials sought Mr Benn’s approval to bring DFID policy on

road movements into line with the FCO.267

382.  Officials updated Mr Benn on security in Basra six days later.268 Rocket attacks on

the Basra Palace site were becoming more frequent and accurate. Three attacks had

263  Minute [DFID junior official] to PS/Secretary of State [DFID], 16 December 2005, ‘Iraq: Iraq Security

Update’.

264  Minute Iraq Directorate [junior official] to Foreign Secretary, 19 December 2005, ‘Iraq: Proposed

Changes to Travel in Southern Iraq for HMG Civilian Staff’.

265  Minute Siddiq to Iraq Directorate [junior official], 9 January 2006, ‘Iraq: Proposed Changes to Travel in

Southern Iraq for HMG Civilian Staff’.

266  Minutes, 12 January 2006, Defence and Overseas Policy Sub Committee on Iraq.

267  Minute [DFID junior official] to PS/Secretary of State [DFID], 2 February 2006, ‘Iraq: Iraq Security

Update’.

268  Minute [DFID junior official] to PS/Secretary of State [DFID], 8 February 2006, ‘Information Note:

Security Update – Basra, Iraq’.

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