TROOPS who commit serious offences will be able to escape justice under legislation, MPs warned yesterday.

In a damning report on the Overseas Operations Bill, the joint committee on human rights said that the legislation breaches Britain’s human rights obligations and creates unjustified barriers to prosecutions.

The Bill seeks to limit false and historical allegations arising from overseas operations by introducing a statutory presumption against prosecution, making it exceptional for personnel to be prosecuted five years or more after an incident.