Sexual Harassment in the Military. Everybody has a right to be treated with dignity and respect at work regardless of rank or grade. Unfortunately, this often does not happen. Statistics show that service personnel can be the subject of intimidating and hostile working environments. In an article published in a 2022 newspaper following a lengthy investigation, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has been described as having a “toxic atmosphere” which has led to sexual assault and intimidation against female service personnel whilst on active duty as well as during training.
Female service personnel have described a culture of assault and abuse ranging from attempting to distract them while on duty by such means as the offending officer suggesting that they were going to, or in fact had placed their penis in the recipient’s pocket, to finding an officer naked in their bed.
A further example of the culture of harassment in the Royal Navy was a ‘crush depth rape list’ in which female officers would be ranked in the order of assault in the event of a catastrophic event hitting the vessel.
This behaviour seeks to demean and belittle, to remove the recipient’s self-worth and dignity. This is not something which should happen to anyone, least of all one who has chosen to serve and protect their country.
For a full assessment and overview of your claim get in touch with us today.
- Call Diane Askwith on 0113 224 7837
- Email: mc@cohencramer.co.uk
Issues Arising from Bullying and Harassment in the Military
All too often we see articles in the news about how service personnel have been treated very badly by colleagues or those in the chain of command which can lead to catastrophic consequences on a person’s health or career. More examples of bullying and harassment are as follows:
- Insulting comments
- Actual assault either physical or sexual
- Intimidation/threats
Everybody in the workplace has a responsibility to set examples of their own behaviour and open discussions should be encouraged about any issues.
The MOD’s Joint Service Publication JSP 753 sets out procedures to be followed in the event a complaint is made about bullying and harassment.
The procedures state that there should be a swift investigation into the issues with a view to resolving any complaint as quickly as possible. Any delays in the investigation or allegations of bias/failure to properly investigate could in itself give rise to challenge.
Your Compensation Claim
The victims of sexual assault occasionally sustain actual bodily injury. However, a more common result is mental trauma which in turn can lead to PTSD, depression and similar mental health issues. In turn, such conditions can lead to a loss of career and long-term health issues.
We are here to help. If you have experienced any sort of bullying, harassment or sexual assault while an active service personnel you may be entitled to damages.
The courts can award damages for your pain, suffering and impact on any hobbies or day-to-day activities. You may also be entitled to compensation for any financial losses if you have had to take time off work, your progression has been affected or even if you have been forced to leave your military career.
At Cohen Cramer, we are experienced in assessing the impact of any financial losses you may have which can include loss of earnings and pension rights, loss of allowances, promotion, housing allowances, fringe benefits (including the loss of free medical/dental care) and many other things. We have access to leading experts who have long experience in preparing detailed evidence on these issues.
There are very strict time limits for making such claims. It is vital to avoid delay as the right to any claim may be lost with the passage of time. We offer a truly “no win, no fee” service. If you do not win your case, you don’t pay us anything for the work we have done in pursuing your claim (subject to terms and conditions).
We will always deal with your enquiry in a sensitive and empathetic manner. If you require advice about this or any other injury you have suffered, you should call Diane Askwith for an informal and no-obligation chat.
Start Your Claim Today
For a full assessment and overview of your claim get in touch with us today.
- Call Diane Askwith on 0113 224 7837
- Email: mc@cohencramer.co.uk
Your claim can be dealt with under a conditional fee agreement. This means that if your claim is not successful then, subject to compliance with our terms and conditions, you will not have to pay for the work we have done on your behalf.
