Streeting ‘sickened’ by Harrogate Army college reports

The defence secretary has faced calls for a public inquiry after four young women told the BBC they had suffered sexual abuse and harassment while attending the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate.

On a visit to Rosyth, Scotland, on Friday (August 7), Mr Streeting told reporters he would be “looking in detail” at the allegations and a broader programme of “cultural change” across the military.

He said: “I’m absolutely sickened by the reports that we’ve seen, and my heart goes out to this courageous woman who’s spoken up, having been so badly failed.”

“We have a duty to uphold the very highest standards in uniform and to treat every woman with the dignity and respect she deserves,” he added.

“I gather that there have been some improvements since this case came to light, but I need to assure myself that we’re doing everything we can to deliver the culture change that’s needed so that everyone in the uniform upholds the standards that we would expect.”

AFC Harrogate provides training for under-19s, including the Army’s junior soldier training for those aged 16 and 17.

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On Thursday, the BBC reported four women had come forward making allegations of sexual abuse during their time at the college over the past five years.

A woman whom the BBC called Tilly told the broadcaster she had been raped aged 17 at the college by fellow soldiers.

She said the attack lasted for hours and took place after she was casually invited into a soldier’s room.

Another woman whom the BBC called Monica said she was sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier who trapped her in a room before kissing and touching her without her consent.

A third woman, whose story was shared with the BBC by her mother, was allegedly sexually assaulted and subjected to sexual harassment during her training and would sleep across the door to her room to stop male soldiers from entering.

Instructors were also accused of inappropriate behaviour including marking girls’ looks out of 10 and walking into the girls’ dorms without knocking while cadets were undressed, according to the BBC.

The Army has described the reports as “extremely distressing” and “unacceptable” and called for victims and witnesses of criminal behaviour at the college to come forward.

North Yorkshire Police has confirmed that investigations are ongoing into “three cases”.