The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
801.
Sub‑contractors,
who included guards employed by Control Risks Group
and
ArmorGroup,
were excluded on the grounds that the numbers involved would
“very
significantly
increase production costs” and “risk devaluing the medal”. The
Iraq
Directorate
also observed that most sub‑contractors “already receive
considerable
financial
reward for their efforts”.
802.
The proposal
also excluded UK police officers employed at the Jordan
International
Police
Training Centre. While recognising that the police officers who set
up the centre
had
volunteered for service in Iraq, were expecting to be deployed
there, and worked,
initially,
in physically difficult conditions, the Iraq Directorate advised
that service in Iraq
had carried
an entirely different level of risk.
803.
A revised
proposal, including sub‑contractors, was put to Mr Straw in
February.511
Officials
advised that:
“Although
these guards are well paid for their work, we believe that the
risks
that they
undertake merit their inclusion. They are an essential part of
our
operation.
Posts argue strongly that to exclude them would damage morale
and
create
divisions.”
804.
Mr Straw
was “generally content” with the proposal, but asked whether a
“blanket
exception”
for LE staff was fair.512
805.
The paper
prepared by the FCO for the Cabinet Office in July 2005
included
sub‑contractors,
but not LE staff.513
806.
The FCO paper
listed the “risks and rigours” facing civilians who had served in
Iraq
since
2003:
“RISKS
•
Overall a
high risk to personnel both on and off duty.
•
High risk
of rocket and mortar attack on all civilians, both in office and
staff
accommodation.
•
High risk
of attack by IED (improvised explosive devices), VBIED (vehicle
borne
improvised
explosive devices) and suicide car bombers, when travelling
in
official
transport on the ground.
•
High risk
of attack by individual suicide vest bombers.
•
High risk
of attack from surface to air weapons when travelling in either RAF
or
Army
helicopter flights.
•
High risk
of kidnapping.
511
Minute Iraq
Directorate [junior official] to PS [FCO], 16 February 2005, ‘Iraq
Civilian Medal’.
512
Manuscript
comment Siddiq to Crompton, 24 February 2005, on Minute Iraq
Directorate [junior official]
to PS
[FCO], 16 February 2005, ‘Iraq Civilian Medal’.
513
Paper FCO,
July 2005, ‘Memorandum by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Iraq
Civilian Medal’.
380