For years sexual abuse in the armed forces has gone unreported. Now in the wake of #MeToo, shocking allegations including rape are surfacing in the military.
@LaraWhyte investigates.
thetimes.co.uk/article/i-was-…
@LaraWhyte investigates.
thetimes.co.uk/article/i-was-…
Earlier this year, a gagging order was lifted to allow servicewomen to give evidence to an inquiry by the defence committee, Women in the Armed Forces.
More than 4,000 women took part, including veterans.
More than 4,000 women took part, including veterans.
The defence committee hearings came as part of the efforts of Diane Allen’s campaign to take the issues affecting women in the armed forces to parliament following an overwhelming response to her book, Forewarned. 
Diane Allen served in the army for 30 years and was one of the first women to attend Sandhurst.
Her book was her attempt to turn the #MeToo movement “into the turning point” the army need: “A call to arms to see how many other women had been suffering in the military.”
Her book was her attempt to turn the #MeToo movement “into the turning point” the army need: “A call to arms to see how many other women had been suffering in the military.”
64% of female veterans and 58% of those women currently serving who took part in the defence inquiry said they had experienced bullying, harassment and discrimination.
Each branch of the military has its own police service, so if you fall victim to crime, it will generally be dealt with through internal processes. These police forces have been criticised for the service they provide victims.
Case study: Joanna* woke up naked on Remembrance Sunday.
The flashbacks started as a series of floating faces. She surveyed her body “in shock and denial, confused about what happened. I didn’t understand what, or how, or why”
(*names have been changed)
thetimes.co.uk/article/i-was-…
The flashbacks started as a series of floating faces. She surveyed her body “in shock and denial, confused about what happened. I didn’t understand what, or how, or why”
(*names have been changed)
thetimes.co.uk/article/i-was-…
The matter was treated at first as a disciplinary one.
When she attended a summary hearing for breaching the social code, alcohol was blamed as a “mitigating factor”.
After an interview with the Royal Navy Police she was charged and fined more than £1,000.
When she attended a summary hearing for breaching the social code, alcohol was blamed as a “mitigating factor”.
After an interview with the Royal Navy Police she was charged and fined more than £1,000.
“I even officially apologised to the captain, and he had a go at me for not being remorseful” she says.
It was only in the months after that she began to question what had happened.
It was only in the months after that she began to question what had happened.
“Someone said to me, ‘If you can’t remember then you didn’t consent, so it was rape.’
That’s the first time it dawned on me, so I went to the local police.” The response from civilian police, typical of other cases, was to bat it back to the military police."
That’s the first time it dawned on me, so I went to the local police.” The response from civilian police, typical of other cases, was to bat it back to the military police."
She then faced a “horrific” four-hour interview with the detective part of the military police.
“There was no preparation. I had no support, nothing. The questions this massive guy in uniform was asking included horrifically intimate details. So that’s when the PTSD started."
“There was no preparation. I had no support, nothing. The questions this massive guy in uniform was asking included horrifically intimate details. So that’s when the PTSD started."
Read the full report here: thetimes.co.uk/article/i-was-…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
