Overview
- Private Jethro Watson-Pickering was killed on 15 October 2021 when the Scimitar’s gun barrel struck a tree, the turret rotated and a rear storage bin hit his head causing fatal injuries.
- The Health and Safety Executive concluded there was no safe system of work for driving the vehicle, that risk assessments did not spot the turret-rotation danger and that training and instruction were inadequate.
- By accepting the Crown Censure the Ministry of Defence formally acknowledged it breached Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and received the HSE’s highest sanction for a Crown body.
- Army chief General Sir Roly Walker apologised in person to the soldier’s family and the MoD says it has implemented changes including banning 'head-up' driving and withdrawing the Scimitar from UK service in 2023.
- Investigators noted earlier near-miss incidents involving the widened turret were not properly acted on, the inquest into Watson-Pickering’s death remains adjourned, and the finding could deepen scrutiny of safety across armoured vehicle training.