UK Special Forces

AOAV is dedicated to the transparency and accountability of Special Forces operations globally. Under this category, AOAV seeks to publish occasional reports and commentaries on Special Forces operations, especially when such operations cause civilian deaths and injuries. As it stands, the UK Special Forces do not fall under the purview of the Parliamentary Defence or Intelligence Select Committees. Whilst we understand the need for Special Forces to be allowed to operate under a higher degree of classified and protected information than regular forces, such a lack of parliamentary oversight is not just a concern. As evidenced in our main report – Killing in the Shadows – such a lack of scrutiny has led directly to an abuse of lethal power and a breakdown in democratic accountability – the very thing that Special Forces are designed to protect and preserve.