THE government's bid to give stronger legal protections to British forces fighting overseas is “not about helping veterans” but about protecting the armed forces “as institutions,” peace campaigners argued today. 

MPs voted on the second reading of the Overseas Operations Bill, which would create a “triple lock” for troops and veterans, including protections against being prosecuted for alleged offences committed more than five years ago. 

Human-rights groups have condemned the proposed legislation, warning that it would effectively “decriminalise torture.”