Navy chief defends internal rape investigations because of a lack of understanding about life at sea
The head of the Royal Navy has defended internal rape investigations as he said outsiders would not understand the “context” of life at sea.
It comes after Admiral Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, was forced to launch an investigation into what he said were “abhorrent” claims of inappropriate behaviour in the submarine service.
Whilst many have argued that such events should be investigated by an independent body, Sir Ben argued that those investigating such complaints have to understand the particulars of life at sea.
“There is a context that needs to be understood by those doing an investigation as to what naval life is like,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme on Sunday.
“That’s not to excuse inappropriate behaviour - far from it - but it's to place it within the pressures that people feel on a day-to-day basis, and to understand where and how we need to change things and where and how certain actions need to be set.
“I would be really worried that if we were setting ourselves in a completely independent process, we would both slow it down, and actually lead to less good outcomes.”
Sir Ben admitted that for some time the Navy’s “investigation processes were too closely aligned with the chain of command, which could then on occasion be seen as presenting a conflict”.
However, he said that process has since been changed in a way that when someone makes a formal complaint, “the admissibility and the handling of that complaint is immediately taken away from the unit they are serving in and assessed at headquarters”.
'Deeply disturbed'
Last month, Sir Ben said he was “deeply disturbed” to hear claims of bullying, misogyny and sexual harassment against women within the Royal Navy Submarine Service.
He said that sexual assault and harassment have no place in the Royal Navy, adding that anyone who is found culpable will be held accountable regardless of rank.
In comments posted on Twitter at the time, Sir Ben said: “I am deeply disturbed to hear of allegations of inappropriate behaviour in the submarine service and I want to reassure our people, and anyone who is reading this, that any activity which falls short of the highest of standards the Royal Navy sets itself is totally unacceptable and not a true reflection of what service life should be.
"These allegations are abhorrent.”
It came after former lieutenant Sophie Brook, 30, accused the Navy of “a constant campaign of sexual bullying”.
She said that “the best thing I ever did was leave the Navy”, as she cited an old boys' club which makes for “a hostile and misogynistic place”.
Earlier this month, another woman, known as “Catherine” told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour programme that she had become pregnant after being raped while serving at sea.
She did not report the rape at the time because she was worried about being labelled a troublemaker. She said: “There is no complaints system that is completely separate to the people that are serving. Anyone who is going to investigate a complaint is actually serving and working alongside the people you are complaining about.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said that, while most Royal Navy personnel enjoy rewarding careers, for some, predominantly women, their experience has been affected by inappropriate sexualised behaviour.
It says it accepts that more needs to be done and that it is improving reporting mechanisms for sexual offences.
Earlier this year, the MoD announced a zero-tolerance policy to sexual offences, aligning the Royal Navy, RAF, and Army under one approach to dealing with incidents with the aim of enabling services to better support victims and secure justice for them.
