General Sir Roly Walke, the head of the British Army has condemned officers’ ‘appalling, shameful behavior’ after over 1,000 women told their stories of sexual harassment and abuse.
In an inquest held to investigate the death of Royal Artillery gunner Jaysley Louise Beck who was found hanging in her barracks in Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire, after a party, in December 2021, the stories of the women were shared.
Inquest heard she was sent thousands of text messages by her superior and was allegedly pinched down by another senior officer who tried to kissed her.
Fill Your Boots is a social media account that has collected testimonies about similar experiences from women who are serving and have left the military.
Several women reported that they had to hold their breath in the night to prevent male officers from trying their door to fool them into thinking they were not home. Other women told stories of men entering their rooms without permission or sexually harassing and pinning them to the wall.
One person said: “A sergeant kicked and acted out sexual acts on me before a warrant officer, and nothing was done… He threatened and used his position against me.”
One woman claimed that she was raped in her unit, but the case did not go to trial.
Leighann McCready posted: “I’m the mother of Jaysley Louise Beck.” I’d like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude for your support and how proud I am that others have spoken up.
Vice Admiral Phil Haddy has called on any other victims of serious crimes to contact the MoD’s Serious Crime Command.
In a letter to X, he wrote: “Our Armed Forces have no place for sexual behavior that is unacceptable.”
A spokesperson for the MoD told The Times that “this unacceptable sexual behavior has no place in our armed forces, and we will not tolerate it.”
No place in the Armed Forces for sexual misconduct.
Our confidential crime line is available 24/7 for anyone (military, civilian or otherwise) who has experienced a serious crime within the Defence.
— Vice Admiral Phil Hally 13 February 2025 HTML0
“Our people deserve a feeling of safety and support, so we’ve implemented a number of measures. These include two zero-tolerance polices and a policy against sexual exploitation and abuse.
If you do not meet our standards, the consequences can be severe, including criminal charges or dismissal.
General Walker wrote to senior officers: “Let’s be clear, it is not acceptable that we continue to see behaviours that are not in line with our standards and values.
It is worse if those in the chain of command are not doing enough, or if they are actively complicit.
Kate Palmer, director of employment services at Peninsula, stated that the allegations are “particularly concerning” not only because they were so many but also because some involved senior officers.
Sexual harassment is unacceptable between co-workers of any rank. However, senior and junior staff members are often considered as a ‘power imbalance’. This means that victims are more likely to feel under pressure to accept any abuse, and less likely to report them, out of fear of being disbelieved and of the possible consequences for their position.
It’s vital that employers across all industries have policies and procedures in place for dealing with complaints – no matter who they are directed against.
Subscribe to our weekly HR news and guidance
Every Wednesday, receive the Personnel Today Direct newsletter.
Personnel Today offers a variety of opportunities for change management.
Browse Change Management Jobs
