TROOPS FEAR 17,000 victims of Forces bullying epidemic
Senior officers ‘failing to tackle serious complaints’
UP to 17,000 members of the Armed Forces have been physically, racially or sexually abused by colleagues in the past year.
This equates to 12% of all those currently serving – but research shows that more than 90% say nothing because they fear they won’t be taken seriously.
The shocking figures emerged following an MPS’ inquiry into treatment of women in the Armed Forces.
MP Sarah Atherton, an Intelligence Corps veteran, revealed the figures to Parliament’s Defence Sub-committee.
None of them were disputed by the Ministry of Defence.
It comes as an inquest heard how Rifleman Mitchell Matthews, 24, took his own life in July after being told to “man up” when he asked for time off to help with childcare during lockdown.
His widow Katy said he suffered “bullying” at Bulford Camp, Wilts. During the inquiry, MPS heard that senior officers repeatedly failed to clamp down on bullying by ignoring complaints of physical, mental and racial abuse, sexual assault and rape.
The committee was also told that military rape victims had to face the “horrifying” ordeal of being questioned by senior officers over their behaviour prior to the attack.
Delays
Witnesses said top brass tried to undermine complaints with delaying tactics, hoping claims would be dropped or individuals would leave.
MPS heard the Armed Forces had never met the target to resolve 90% of complaints within 24 weeks. Some cases had taken as long as eight years to handle and driven their victims to suicide.
The revelation comes just days after a member of the RAF Regiment was filmed being sexually assaulted with a mortar tube in an initiation ceremony.
The unit involved has since been disbanded and the officers in charge suspended as part of a criminal investigation.
Nicola Williams, who quit as the Service Complaints Ombudsman of the Armed Forces, was among those giving evidence. Her job was to scrutinise the handling of service complaints.
She told MPS that 93% of troops who could complain about bullying, harassment and discrimination refused as they were scared of the con- sequences. She said the complaints she saw were just the “tip of the iceberg”.
Ms Williams said:
“There is still a feeling to make a complaint is a sign of weakness.
As long as that undercurrent is there, you will find people who could make legitimate complaints, won’t.”
She said that previously, some of the reasons she had given were it “takes too long; they will be victimised; it’s not confidential; they will be career-fouled; and overall their life would not be worth living”.
Lawyer Emma Norton, a specialist in military abuse cases and director of the Centre for Military Justice, said the Armed Forces often used delay as a tactic. She cited the case of an alleged serious sexual assault where it took 14 months to make an admissibility decision.
Ms Norton said clients making service complaints often wanted to drop them, because “they find it painful and re-traumatising, they are not believed and they are being handled by people who have no understanding of the issues”.
Some of the most troubling evidence came
from retired former RAF Wing Commander Graham House. He was sacked after refusing to cover up a serious sexual assault on a 13-year-old female cadet by a member of his staff.
The ex-nimrod pilot told how his bosses felt “the allegation would have a high impact on the reputation of the service, especially on the anniversary of the air cadet organisation”.
Brutal
Mr House eventually got the civilian police involved and the female RAF sergeant was charged, found guilty and imprisoned. But once the court case was over, he was effectively sacked.
In July 2012, he formally complained about his treatment and in 2015, he was medically discharged with what was called an adjustment disorder. The day after, he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act amid fears he was suicidal.
Mr House’s complaint was finally upheld this January. The ombudsman found he had been “unjustly removed from command” and “wronged”. But the findings are not binding so the recbeen
ommendation for substantial compensation was ignored. He received just £450.
Mr House said: “My complaint cost me my career, home and £80,000 in legal payments. If I found that brutal – definitely life-changing, and close to lifetaking – with all my background, all my resilience and all my experience to draw on, God help the minority groups, women, BAME and the junior ranks.
“This happens to thousands of people so no one bothers to complain – even about rape.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said it was “grateful” to all the women giving evidence to the inquiry, and added: “Their testimony makes clear that on too many occasions, Defence failed to provide adequate support.
“We are committed to improving the experience for women in the Armed Forces in every area of their lives.
“Anyone who falls short of our high standards of behaviour will be dealt with robustly, including dismissal and possible police investigation. There is no room for any form of discrimination.”