To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions in (a) 2013 and (b)
2014 commanding officers have requested legal advice following allegations of (i)
sexual assault, (ii) exposure, (iii) voyeurism, (iv) sexual activity in a public lavatory
and (v) other forms of sexual misconduct; and if he will make a statement.
<p>The information requested is given below. No allegations of sexual activity in
a public lavatory resulted in a request for legal advice from a Commanding Officer.</p><p>
</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Offence</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p><p><strong>until
24 October</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sexual Assault</p></td><td><p>65</p></td><td><p>48</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Exposure</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Voyeurism</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other
Sexual Misconduct</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>29</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>135</p></td><td><p>81</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many allegations of (a) sexual assault,
(b) exposure, (c) voyeurism, (d) sexual activity in a public lavatory, (e) rape and
(f) other forms of sexual misconduct have been recorded by the Crime Statistics and
Analysis Cell in each month since April 2014 relating to the (i) Army, (ii) Navy,
(iii) RAF and (iv) reservists; and if he will make a statement.
<p>The table shows the number of allegations of rape, sexual assault, exposure, voyeurism,
and other forms of sexual misconduct, recorded by the Service police in each month
since April 2014 up to 24 October 2014, broken down by Service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Month/Service</p></td><td><p>April 2014</p></td><td><p>May
2014</p></td><td><p>June 2014</p></td><td><p>July 2014</p></td><td><p>August 2014</p></td><td><p>September
2014</p></td><td><p>October 2014</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8"><p><strong>Number
Of Rape Allegations</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Army</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal
Navy</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal
Air Force</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td
colspan="8"><p><strong>Number Of Sexual Assault (By Penetration) Allegations</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Month/Service</p></td><td><p>April
2014</p></td><td><p>May 2014</p></td><td><p>June 2014</p></td><td><p>July 2014</p></td><td><p>August
2014</p></td><td><p>September 2014</p></td><td><p>October 2014</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British
Army</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td
colspan="8"><p><strong>Number Of Sexual Assault (No Penetration) Allegations</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Month/Service</p></td><td><p>April
2014</p></td><td><p>May 2014</p></td><td><p>June 2014</p></td><td><p>July 2014</p></td><td><p>August
2014</p></td><td><p>September 2014</p></td><td><p>October 2014</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British
Army</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal
Navy</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal
Air Force</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td
colspan="8"><p><strong>Number of Exposure Allegations</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British
Army</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td
colspan="8"><p><strong>Number Of Voyeurism Allegations</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Month/Service</p></td><td><p>April
2014</p></td><td><p>May 2014</p></td><td><p>June 2014</p></td><td><p>July 2014</p></td><td><p>August
2014</p></td><td><p>September 2014</p></td><td><p>October 2014</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British
Army</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal
Air Force</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td
colspan="8"><p><strong>Number Of Other Sexual Offences Under The Sexual Offences Act
2003 Allegations</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Month/Service</p></td><td><p>April
2014</p></td><td><p>May 2014</p></td><td><p>June 2014</p></td><td><p>July 2014</p></td><td><p>August
2014</p></td><td><p>September 2014</p></td><td><p>October 2014</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British
Army</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Notes:
The table only details investigations where the appropriate Service police have jurisdiction
and investigative lead.</p><p>The allegation recorded against each Service is that
of the victim.</p><p> </p><p>No such allegations have been reported to the Service
police in respect of sexual activity in public lavatory or from any of the Reserve
Forces for the period detailed in the above tables.</p><p> </p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made in
assessing the systems used by (a) his Department, (b) the Army, (c) the Navy and (d)
the RAF for recording service complaints; and if he will make a statement.
<p>Accurate data is clearly important for assessing the efficiency and effectiveness
of the complaints process. Service complaints data is captured by all three Services
on the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system. The system and the supporting
guidance for users have been refined following internal audits of JPA's effectiveness
and extent of its use in 2008 and 2012.</p><p>A third audit is being carried out to
review the adequacy and effectiveness of actions taken in response to the audit in
2012. The Service Complaints Commissioner is fully involved in the audit.</p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reports of allegations of (a)
sexual assault, (b) exposure, (c) voyeurism, (d) sexual activity in a public lavatory
and (e) other forms of sexual misconduct were made by commanding officers to each
of the service police forces in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014 to date; and if he will make
a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2014
to Question 210743, when the changes to the habitation of offenders legislation came
into force; when his Department became aware of this change; and if he will make a
statement.
<p>In my answer of 21 October 2014 to Question UIN 210743 I referred to 2011 as being
the year in which changes to rehabilitation legislation came into effect. I should
clarify that this was, in fact, the year in which we first recognised the implications
of the changes, which came into effect in December 2008. My answer to your question
on 28 April 2014 (Official Report, columns 443-444W) explained that, since the implications
of the changes were recognised, no administrative action has been taken against service
personnel who received a police caution that is immediately spent. We do not comment
on individual complaints.</p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2014
to Question 210743, what the nature is of the disciplinary action taken against the
four serving members of the armed forces who lodged complaints which were subsequently
and remain stayed; and if he will make a statement.
<p>In my answer of 21 October 2014 to Question UIN 210743 I referred to 2011 as being
the year in which changes to rehabilitation legislation came into effect. I should
clarify that this was, in fact, the year in which we first recognised the implications
of the changes, which came into effect in December 2008. My answer to your question
on 28 April 2014 (Official Report, columns 443-444W) explained that, since the implications
of the changes were recognised, no administrative action has been taken against service
personnel who received a police caution that is immediately spent. We do not comment
on individual complaints.</p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Service Complaints Ombudsman
is a member of the Service Justice Board; and if he will make a statement.
<p>The Service Justice Board concerns itself with ensuring that the Service Justice
System provides a fair system of justice for those who are alleged to have breached
Service Law, and that the system is also able to support the Chain of Command in delivering
operational effectiveness; the Service Complaints Ombudsman is not a member.</p><p>
</p><p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence
funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the
costs associated with her independent function; this includes the procurement of any
legal advice. The amount spent by the Ombudsman’s office on legal advice varies year
on year, and is detailed in the financial expenditure statements in her annual reports
to Parliament on the fairness, effectiveness and efficiency of the Service Complaints
system. These reports – and those submitted by the Service Complaints Commissioner,
can be found at the following address:</p><p> </p><p>http://www.servicecomplaintsombudsman.org.uk/service-complaints-ombudsman/publications-and-reports/annual-reports/.</p><p>
</p><p>The Annual Report for 2018 will be available in the first quarter of 2019.</p><p>
</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on investigation
officers and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p><p> </p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) staff were employed as investigation
officers, (b) investigations were current and (c) investigations were awaiting allocation
to an investigation officer in the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman in each
quarter since January 2017; and if he will make a statement.
<p>The Service Justice Board concerns itself with ensuring that the Service Justice
System provides a fair system of justice for those who are alleged to have breached
Service Law, and that the system is also able to support the Chain of Command in delivering
operational effectiveness; the Service Complaints Ombudsman is not a member.</p><p>
</p><p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence
funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the
costs associated with her independent function; this includes the procurement of any
legal advice. The amount spent by the Ombudsman’s office on legal advice varies year
on year, and is detailed in the financial expenditure statements in her annual reports
to Parliament on the fairness, effectiveness and efficiency of the Service Complaints
system. These reports – and those submitted by the Service Complaints Commissioner,
can be found at the following address:</p><p> </p><p>http://www.servicecomplaintsombudsman.org.uk/service-complaints-ombudsman/publications-and-reports/annual-reports/.</p><p>
</p><p>The Annual Report for 2018 will be available in the first quarter of 2019.</p><p>
</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on investigation
officers and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p><p> </p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many successful applicants for the
role of investigation officer were awaiting security vetting in each quarter since
2017; how long each such investigation officer was waiting for that vetting to be
completed; how many people found other employment during the period of security vetting;
who was responsible for that security vetting; how often the contractual standards
for security vetting were not met in that time period; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what budget is available each year to the
office of the Armed Forces Ombudsman to access legal advice from (a) the Government's
legal service, (b) his Department's legal services and (c) independent legal services;
and if he will make a statement.
<p>The Service Justice Board concerns itself with ensuring that the Service Justice
System provides a fair system of justice for those who are alleged to have breached
Service Law, and that the system is also able to support the Chain of Command in delivering
operational effectiveness; the Service Complaints Ombudsman is not a member.</p><p>
</p><p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence
funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the
costs associated with her independent function; this includes the procurement of any
legal advice. The amount spent by the Ombudsman’s office on legal advice varies year
on year, and is detailed in the financial expenditure statements in her annual reports
to Parliament on the fairness, effectiveness and efficiency of the Service Complaints
system. These reports – and those submitted by the Service Complaints Commissioner,
can be found at the following address:</p><p> </p><p>http://www.servicecomplaintsombudsman.org.uk/service-complaints-ombudsman/publications-and-reports/annual-reports/.</p><p>
</p><p>The Annual Report for 2018 will be available in the first quarter of 2019.</p><p>
</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on investigation
officers and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p><p> </p>