Survey shows sexualised behaviour in Armed Forces is rife – here’s what must change
As a veteran and now a solicitor in Bolt Burdon Kemp’s Military Claims team, I understand the values that underpin military service. The Armed Forces ask extraordinary things of the people who serve – and in return, they owe them something fundamental: safety, dignity, and protection.
Yet the recent findings from the Ministry of Defence’s Sexualised Behaviour Survey paint a very different picture for many women in uniform.
The results are stark: two-thirds of women surveyed experienced at least one form of sexualised behaviour in the last year alone.
This is a systemic crisis affecting thousands of servicewomen – and the consequences ripple far beyond individual experiences. They touch morale, mental health, operational effectiveness and, crucially, trust in the very institution to which our service personnel dedicate their lives.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, the Armed Forces section of our Manifesto for Injured People uses the headline ‘Protecting Those Who Protect Us’. This is not just a tagline but a commitment. A commitment to shining a light where others may prefer darkness. A commitment to holding the MOD to account, and a commitment to ensuring those who serve are not harmed by the very culture that should protect them.
The MOD survey reveals a spectrum of sexualised behaviour, from inappropriate comments and leering to unwanted touching and, in some cases, non-consensual sexual activity. Many of the women affected are in junior positions, often targeted by colleagues or superiors whose rank makes speaking out feel impossible.
A significant number of women did not report what happened to them. Not because the behaviour was insignificant, but because they feared retaliation, damage to their career, or dismissal of their concerns. This reflects a culture in which far too many victims feel unheard and unprotected.
As someone who has served, I know how much trust is placed in the chain of command. When reporting mechanisms fail, that trust is broken – often irreparable.
Sexualised behaviour does not only harm individuals, it harms the military as a whole. That’s because:
- Women are being driven out of service, with a significant proportion reporting that this behaviour made them consider leaving.
- Team cohesion suffers when units are divided by fear, silence, or disrespect.
- Operational effectiveness declines when talent is lost and morale is undermined.
- Recruitment and retention become harder when a service is perceived as unsafe or unequal.
The Armed Forces cannot afford to lose the skills, leadership and potential of the women who serve. Nor can the services be a place where misogyny and harassment are tolerated hazards of military life.
‘Protecting those who protect us’: What must change
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we have long advocated for reform within military structures, particularly in how complaints are handled and how survivors are supported. The survey’s findings reinforce the urgency of this mission. What we need is:
- Independent, trusted reporting mechanisms
Service personnel should never have to report misconduct to the very culture or individuals that silence them. Independence is essential for trust.
- Real accountability at all ranks
Training alone is not enough. Without robust, transparent consequences – especially when perpetrators are senior – confidence will not return.
- Survivor-centred support
Legal advice, mental health support and safeguarding must be easily accessible, stigma-free, and sensitively delivered.
- Leadership that drives cultural change, not just policy change
Culture shifts only when senior voices make clear, visible commitments to zero tolerance and follow through with action.
- Continuous monitoring, not one-off surveys
Understanding the scale of the problem is essential. Tracking progress ensures promises aren’t forgotten once headlines fade.
When I served in the Royal Navy, I saw the powerful bond that forms when people serve together under challenging circumstances.
Now, as a solicitor in the military claims team that represents serving personnel and veterans who have suffered harm, I see the long-term consequences: trauma, stalled careers, lost confidence, lives permanently altered by experiences that never should have happened.
Our clients often come to us feeling powerless. Our role, and our responsibility, is to change that.
In our manifesto, we specifically called for the criminalisation of sexual relationships between trainees and instructors, for sexual offences to be prosecuted by civilian courts, and for a reformed, independent complaints system.
‘Protecting those who protect us’, means:
- Amplifying the voices of those silenced by military culture
- Challenging systems that fail the people they are meant to protect
- Ensuring those harmed receive justice, redress, and support
- Advocating for a safer, fairer, more accountable Armed Forces
The Armed Forces relies on courage, discipline, and honour. But true honour is not found in uniform alone, it’s found in how an institution treats its people.
Women in the military deserve the same protection they are trained to provide to others. They deserve respect in the workplace. They deserve the right to serve without fear.
The Armed Forces can be better. They must be better. And at Bolt Burdon Kemp, we will continue working until every service person – woman or man – is protected, respected, and able to thrive.
Because protecting them is not optional.
It’s our duty.
