Forces may relax rules on adultery

THE armed forces could be told to "carry on" with adultery, providing their extra-marital affairs are with civilians under a new code of conduct being drawn up by military modernisers.

The aim of the code is to bring the armed forces up to date with moral and social ethics in civvy street, but it is expected to cause some traditionalists to choke on their pink gins, if it is approved next month by the army board.

The code would still ban extra-marital affairs between service personnel, leaving adulterous affairs within the ranks an offence punishable by disciplinary action, including discharge from the service.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said last night: "There will be a paper on army discipline which will be going before the executive committee of the army board in March. Until it is approved, any reports are premature."

If the board agrees to the changes, it will go before ministers and could be adopted by the summer but it will not help some of the most controversial sex scandals in the ranks which have been between serving officers.

The army believes adultery within the ranks cannot be condoned because it undermines morale and damages trust within fighting units.