MoD under fire over thefts of military equipment

THEFTS of military equipment are soaring and the Ministry of Defence is doing too little to stop the problem happening or seize expensive kit back, MPs said.

Helicopter rotor blades costing £50,000; £45,000 of night-vision goggles; and an inflatable boat were among thefts totalling more than £1.9 million last year.

Only £19,000 worth was recovered and there were just 11 prosecutions, seven cautions and five dismissals, the Commons defence committee complained. A two-and-a-half times increase in the number of annual thefts to 433 and a fivefold rise in the value of items stolen was put down by top brass in part to better reporting.

Even since new procedures were put in place, however, the number has risen by 28 per cent and the value by 66 per cent.

The level of fraud has also risen sharply, with 592 cases recorded last year, though sums being recovered have gone up by about £100,000.