Officer in William and Harry regiment in breath test probe
...during the Army’s alcohol awareness week
A SENIOR officer from the former regiment of Princes William and Harry is being investigated after being breath tested at a military base – just as the Army launched its pre-Christmas alcohol awareness campaign.
Lieutenant Colonel Pete Perowne of the Household Cavalry Regiment could face disciplinary action. It is claimed he verbally abused soldiers at the camp gate as he was attempting to leave in his car.
After the row, the guards reported him and he was breathalysed.
Ministry of Defence officials last night confirmed that Lieut Col Perowne is the subject of a disciplinary probe by the Royal Military Police (RMP). If charged, he may have to appear before a military judge at a court martial.
The married officer was leaving Picton Barracks in Bulford, Wiltshire, on Thursday after a Christmas lunch when he allegedly got into a dispute with junior soldiers manning the gates.
According to defence sources, they insisted he ‘sign out’ despite his plan to drive just 100 yards to a car park where he intended to leave his vehicle. One soldier contacted RMP officers from 158 Provost Company, who are based nearby.
The incident coincided with a visit to the Bulford base by traffic officers from Wiltshire Police, who were working with the RMP on the Army’s pre-Christmas anti-drink-driving campaign. The Wiltshire officers are understood to have breathalysed Lieut Col Perowne and passed the results to the RMP, who have jurisdiction on military premises.
The MoD would not confirm whether or not the senior officer had failed the breath test.
Lieut Col Perowne recently transferred from the King’s Royal
Hussars to the Household Cavalry. He is thought to have been visiting Bulford and intended to meet his wife and three children at the camp entrance when the incident took place.
The legal limit for driving in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. In Scotland, it is 22 microgrammes.
According to Home Office guidelines, drivers south of the Border are unlikely to be prosecuted unless their reading exceeds 39 microgrammes, and it is understood the RMP follows the same practice.
Prince Harry joined the Blues and Royals, one of two regiments within the Household Cavalry, after being commissioned as an Army officer in April 2006. Eight months later, his older brother Prince William joined the same regiment after receiving his commission.
The Army recently launched Alliance 4 Alcohol Awareness, a support network for troops with drink problems. MoD figures last year said the drinking habits of 58 per cent of troops were putting them at risk of ‘alcohol related harm’.
Last night the MoD said: ‘We are aware of an incident in Bulford. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.’