Fox3
Agreed.
Worse still is that the Government/Civil Service doesn't care either.
To be fair, many do care, but are hamstrung by those at the top listening to the perpetrators, who are allowed to judge themselves. Those at the bottom who may seem not to care are hamstrung by no longer being trained. Many in DE&S now skip the 5 or 6 grades at which you learn how to do this work, and are simply told that it is a waste of money.
The last 5 or 6 Ministers for the Armed Forces have placed in writing their support for those VSOs who issued orders that the regulations should be ignored and false declarations made that they had been implemented. Likewise, the Head of the Civil Service only last year when ruling it is NOT an offence to issue an order to make a false declaration, but is an offence to refuse to obey.
The MAA is fully aware of this. They were present when the last but one Min(AF) was briefed about these ongoing offences and rulings during the Mull of Kintyre Review, but did nothing. DE&S policy branch is wholly content providing the Ministerial briefings under FoI, which often cite MAA officers by name. That DE&S Policy speak for the MAA on this matter clearly demonstrates collusion, making a mockery of the MAA's supposed independence. That they happily flaunt their briefings shows that they are confident of top cover.
The main question is; Would this new Duty Holder construct have prevented ZD576, XV230, XV179, ZG710, XX177, XV704, XV657? No. What would have prevented them, or at least not stripped them of defences in depth? Implementing mandated regulations of the day. The solution? It's a no brainer. You've got to ask why MoD/MAA flatly refuse to address this simple fact.