Disgraced troops who are stripped of their careers after being convicted at court martial will be named online and in this magazine from now on.
Transcripts of sentencing remarks – the statements made by judge advocates after a verdict – will be posted on gov.uk at the close of each case.
The new policy covers cases from the start of 2025.
Cleaven Faulkner, Director of the Military Court Service, said the Armed Forces justice system had sometimes been criticised for a lack of transparency.
He said the latest move – ordered by the judge advocate general – would help to show the workings of courts martial and the rationale for sentences imposed.
Previously, anyone interested in these comments had to attend the case in person or complete paperwork requesting details from the relevant court centre.
“The Service justice system has been on a journey of modernisation and transformation – publishing sentencing remarks is one part of that,” Faulkner told Soldier.
“It means people can see, in some detail, how the court came to its decision.
“A member of the public might conclude from a result alone that a sentence is too lenient or severe, but this explains the thinking.”
Cases will only be published online once they have concluded, he added.
Victims whose identity must be protected – such as those in sexual offence matters or juveniles – will not be named.
Other details subject to court orders may also be removed.
A handful of cases relating to convicted Army and Royal Air
Force personnel were already published as this issue went to press, with more being prepared.
“In all, the process of publication is likely to take up to a month or so after the conclusion of a case,” Faulkner added.
“But they will go on the website as and when they are ready.”
The news follows a wave of abuse allegations from female personnel (Soldier, March), in which many said they had no confidence in the justice system.
Faulkner said all three Services had been supportive of the move to publish, with Army leaders hoping it will provide increased trust in the legal process.
Col Lucy Giles, a course director at the Land Command Staff College and a former college commander at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, commented: “Critically, this will help engender confidence that there is a zero tolerance of poor behaviours – and that our organisation is committed to dealing with the culprits.”
She urged anyone on the receiving end of abuse to report it.
