Canada to remove military from sex offence investigations

FILE PHOTO: Canada's Minister of National Defence Anita Anand and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take part in a news conference about the federal government's response to Hurricane Fiona, later downgraded to post-tropical storm, in Ottawa, Canada, September 26, 2022. REUTERS/Blair Gable/

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's defence minister agreed to remove the military from investigating and prosecuting alleged sexual offences in the armed forces to ensure trust in the probes, one of several recommendations made in an independent report this year.

Canada's military has been under pressure in the face of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct in recent years, including some against high-ranking officers.