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How the US bypasses British courts to try its military over crimes in the UK
UK NewsPolitics•June 25, 2026 at 6:00 AMNational

How the US bypasses British courts to try its military over crimes in the UK

By Rob Evans, Harry Davies and Emine Sinmaz•The Guardian - UK News

Even sexual assault or paedophilia cases are heard by US courts martial, using an obscure 1951 agreement‘Degrading’: why did a US fighter pilot avoid British trial after strangling a woman in England?A little-known system in which US military personnel are tried through a court martial for alleged crimes committed in the UK is under growing scrutiny.There are more than 12,000 US personnel stationed on at least 15 US military bases and facilities in the UK. With the exception of Lossiemouth in Scotland, all the bases are in England. Continue reading...

Even sexual assault or paedophilia cases are heard by US courts martial, using an obscure 1951 agreement

A little-known system in which US military personnel are tried through a court martial for alleged crimes committed in the UK is under growing scrutiny.

There are more than 12,000 US personnel stationed on at least 15 US military bases and facilities in the UK. With the exception of Lossiemouth in Scotland, all the bases are in England.

Continue reading...