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<p>Allegations of rape made by female Service personnel under the age of 18 increased
from one case in 2016 to two cases in 2021. Service Complaints alleging sexual harassment
from within the same group decreased from one case to zero over the same period.</p><p>Sexual
offending is not tolerated in the Armed Forces, and anyone failing to meet the standards
required will be dealt with robustly, including being subject to police investigations
and dismissal. Earlier this year, I announced an intention to publish a Defence-wide
strategy for dealing with rape and serious sexual offences in the Service Justice
System (SJS). The strategy will aim to reduce the prevalence and impact of rape and
other serious sexual offending in the Armed Forces and improve the handling of those
cases in the SJS.</p><p>The Ministry of Defence continues to tackle unacceptable behaviour.
We are implementing the recommendations from the Wigston Review into inappropriate
behaviour, and those made in the 2020 progress review led by Danuta Gray, which concluded
that good progress had been made.</p>
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