Information - NFF

TWO six
– Stay Safe
Social Media websites are widely used by Service personnel, defence civilians, veterans and their friends and families as a
way of staying in touch and communicating with loved ones whilst away on deployment.
The MOD has launched an online security
awareness campaign to inform users of the
potential risks of social networks and the steps they
can take to lessen these. Improper or irresponsible
use of social media channels can present risks
to operational and personal security unless
appropriate steps are taken to safeguard personal
and operationally sensitive information.
Guidance for Staying Safe Online
Whenever you use any social media channel
such as Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Flickr
or LinkedIn, make sure that you’ve familiarised
yourself with the security or privacy settings.
Be aware that information you share on these
channels can be widely available and may be seen
by people other than family and friends.
Make sure you know who are you befriending
online and don’t add friends that you don’t know.
Never share any information which may put Service
or defence personnel at risk (this may include
technical information, operational plans, troop
movement schedules, current or future locations
of military units, aircraft and ships, descriptions of
overseas bases, details of weapons systems, casualty
numbers or discussions of areas frequented by
Service members overseas). If you’re not sure
whether the information that you’re sharing is
sensitive, do not share it until you have sought
clarification from your Chain of Command.
Sensitive information that you share can also be
found within photographs and videos, especially
those taken in military establishments, and imagery
of this sort can also identify Service personnel to
the public against their wishes, putting them at risk.
Do not share or tag information (including photographs
or videos) about other serving personnel or defence
civilians without gaining their permission first.
Be careful when using location-based services
such as Facebook Places, Foursquare and Gowalla
since the information you provide through
such sites can give away more than you intend
about yourself and your regular movements. If
you choose to use any of these services, make
sure security and privacy settings are used
appropriately, and that you do not ‘check in’ to
military establishments.
If you have shared information that you think may
put others at risk, remove the information (text or
imagery) from where you posted it, and inform your
chain of command about your concerns to ensure
remedial action, if any, is taken promptly.
Identifying yourself as Service
personnel or as a defence
civilian and then posting
information on public social
media channels may bring
yourself, your Service or the
defence community into disrepute.
Full details can
be found on Defence
Instructions and Notices
2011DIN01-134 – Online
Security Awareness
Campaign.
Online Dating Scams
Some users of online dating websites have reported making contact with
people who claim to be British Army soldiers on operations in Afghanistan
or Iraq.
Typically, they have reported building a relationship over time, through
correspondence and exchange of photos etc – but eventually there is an
attempt to defraud when the spoof soldier either asks for bank account
details to transfer a significant amount of money, or by asking for money to
enable them to go on leave.
The former is a long-established scam (known as ‘Nigerian money scam’ or
‘advance-fee fraud’) while the latter is a new, but outright, con! British forces
personnel on Operations do not have to pay to go on leave, or to pay for
flights, or replacement personnel.
Anyone in such a position should cease all communications and contact their
local police station.
Remember: people online may not be who they say they are.
Armed Forces Legal Aid Scheme
The Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid Authority (AFCLAA) is a tri-Service
organisation that administers legal aid for the Armed Forces, including civilians
subject to Service discipline, through the Armed Forces Legal Aid Scheme.
Its main role is to process applications for legal aid and recover contributions,
as appropriate, in respect of cases heard in the Court Martial (CM), the
Service Civilian Court (SCC), the Summary Appeal Court (SAC) and Civilian
Criminal Courts overseas.
As a result of the changes to the civilian legal aid scheme, it has been necessary
to revise the Armed Forces legal aid provision. The changes will re-establish
broad equality with the civilian scheme and the underlying principle that Service
Personnel and entitled civilians are not significantly advantaged or disadvantaged,
compared to those receiving legal aid from the civilian scheme, and take into
account the specific circumstances and needs of applicants, as well as the
operational requirements of the Services and the Service
Justice System (SJS). The revised scheme will be known as
the Armed Forces Legal Aid Scheme 2011 (AFLAS 11).
The revised scheme will continue to provide criminal legal
aid to eligible personnel, but will use a more appropriate means test process,
based upon the actual personal and financial position of the applicant, derived
from the civilian scheme. AFCLAA will review all
applications and inform the applicant of their eligibility
for legal aid, the contributions they are required
to make, if they accept an offer of legal aid, from
income and capital/equity. Certain groups of
applicants will continue to remain exempt from the
means test assessment.
Further
information
is available in DIN
2011DIN01-096: The
Armed Forces Legal
Aid Scheme 2011
(AFLAS 11).
HOMEPORT AUTUMN 2011 21