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

Politics The Guardian By Rob Evans, Harry Davies and Emine Sinmaz 25 Jun 2026 05:00 1 min read

Even sexual assault or paedophilia cases are heard by US courts martial, using an obscure 1951 agreement A US fighter pilot strangled a woman in England. Why did it end in a ‘degrading’ military trial? 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

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

A US fighter pilot strangled a woman in England. Why did it end in a ‘degrading’ military trial?

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.

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