Female troops claiming they were raped by colleagues has more than doubled in three years

THE number of female troops claiming they were raped by colleagues has more than doubled in three years, defence chiefs say.

Sixty military police investigations were launched last year — up from 26 in 2020.

And the overall number of sex attacks on female personnel has risen 80 per cent in that time — up from 161 in 2020 to 289 last year.

In more than half of all cases, both the victim and perpetrator were in the Army.

Meanwhile, of the 28 personnel found guilty of child sex abuse image charges, 19 — 67 per cent — were serving in the RAF.

There were also 78 probes into domestic abuse allegations in the Armed Forces, with six people tried last year and four being convicted.

Former Army intelligence officer Col Philip Ingram, of the Independent Defence Association, said: “The increase in rape and sexual assault cases in the military is shocking.”

He said MoD efforts to cut inappropriate behaviours “is not working” and called for civilian police to investigate.

The MoD said it is “committed to stamping out unacceptable behaviours”.

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Mark Hodge

April 6, 2024 11:17 pm