RAF ‘misled MPS’ over Red Arrows sexism allegations

THE Royal Air Force falsely told MPS that Red Arrows sexism allegations did not meet a criminal threshold, whistleblowers have claimed.

Four former members of the squadron have condemned the RAF’S handling of claims of a “toxic culture” that saw women plied with alcohol, treated like property and harassed for sex.

Victims have claimed that the RAF misled the public by telling Parliament that none of the allegations heard by the inquiry team met a criminal threshold, according to the Sky News documentary Untouchable: Inside the Red Arrows.

One trainee officer said that police never interviewed her and others to test independently whether there had been a criminal case to answer. She said that she and others chose not to go to the police directly because they had focused on speaking to the inquiry.

Two investigations into alleged unacceptable behaviour were launched after three women approached the then head of the RAF directly with allegations of ill-treatment.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton offered his “unreserved apologies” following a report released last month, and said he was “appalled” by its findings.

The RAF has previously said that evidence of possible criminal behaviour was passed to the service police, but they were unable to gather sufficient evidence to begin prosecutions.

Responding to the latest allegations, an RAF spokesperson said: “RAF Specialist Investigations Branch were informed of a series of incidents that had been identified from the NSI [non-statutory inquiry] process.

“Having followed all lines of inquiry open to them, the Specialist Investigations Branch concluded that there was insufficient evidence available to meet the evidential sufficiency test for referral to the Service Prosecuting Authority.”