AN anti-bullying campaigner has called for senior officers to be held accountable if it is found they authorised bullying at an Army training centre in the region.

Lynn Farr, of Daniel’s Trust, was speaking out after a BBC undercover reporter filmed instructors at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC), at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, allegedly assaulting young recruits.

Three trainers from the base have been suspended over the claims.

North-East businessman Alasdair MacConachie, who chairs an independent advisory panel to oversee treatment of recruits there, yesterday told The Northern Echo he had never seen any evidence of bullying at the ITC.

But Lynn Farr, who set up Daniel’s Trust to help soldiers being bullied, said she received regular correspondence from parents worried about the treatment of their sons at the ITC.

Mrs Farr, whose son, Daniel, died at the base in usual circumstances in 1997, said: “If it’s part of the robust training then that’s fair enough, but these allegations go beyond that.

“The Army says there is no bullying. Instead they call it beasting, but this is just another term for authorised bullying.

If senior officers have given the direct orders then they should be disciplined.

Sometimes I think they use the non-commissioned officers as scapegoats.”

The undercover footage is due to be screened in a documentary later this month.

The programme claims an instructor choked one recruit and winded others by punching them in the ribs. Allegations of racial abuse have also been made.

However, Mr MacConachie expressed concern about the BBC’s decision to send a reporter posing as a recruit.

He said: “Working with the independent advisory board, I have always been very impressed with what I have seen.

“We have always been given carte blanche to interview soldiers whenever we want.

“I think the Army does a really good job with the material it is given. I have not seen any evidence of bullying.”

The MoD says three instructors from the ITC have been suspended and investigation by the Royal Military Police (Special Investigation Branch) is under way.

The BBC investigation was launched after the death of Private Gavin Williams, a 22- year-old soldier with the Royal Welsh Regiment, at his barracks at Tidworth, Wiltshire.

He died of heatstroke in 2006 during a “beasting”, or punishment session.