The top of the Royal Navy has defended its dealing with of rape, sexual abuse and harassment allegations, arguing that impartial investigations would take longer and ‘result in much less good outcomes’.
Adm Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, final month ordered an inquiry into ‘abhorrent’ claims of inappropriate behaviour within the submarine service.
He instructed BBC Radio 4 on Sunday: ‘It's completely true that, for a very long time, our investigation processes have been too intently aligned with the chain of command, which may then once in a while be seen as presenting a battle.
‘We've got modified it now in order that anybody who needs to boost a proper criticism, the admissibility and the dealing with of that criticism is straight away taken away from the unit they’re serving in and assessed on the headquarters, and can then be independently investigated.’
The admiral mentioned it was necessary investigators understood the pressures of life at sea.
It got here after the Each day Mail reported that submariners had compiled a ‘crush depth rape record’, with ladies ranked within the order they need to be attacked if the vessel was about to implode.
Girls have been incessantly screamed at, known as c**** and hit with clipboards and pens, the newspaper alleged.
Former lieutenant Sophie Brook, 30, mentioned a colleague assaulted her whereas she slept and a senior officer would lick her ear and blow on her neck.
‘The perfect factor I ever did was go away the Navy however I fear in regards to the ladies I left behind. It was only a fixed marketing campaign of sexual bullying,’ she mentioned. ‘It’s simply unlucky the “previous boys’ membership” makes the Navy such a hostile and misogynistic place.’
The Mail mentioned Ms Brook left the service when she was investigated for sharing in an electronic mail delicate details about her submarine’s actions.
The paper mentioned she resigned in January however was formally dismissed in June and handed a suspended jail sentence.
One other whistleblower, who had served in a senior place within the fleet, claimed that ladies are continuously pestered for intercourse.
Saying the inquiry on October 29, Sir Ben mentioned sexual assault and harassment had no place within the Navy. Earlier this 12 months, the Ministry of Defence aligned the Navy, RAF and Military beneath one strategy to coping with such incidents.
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