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<p>In the interests of protecting the anonymity of the victims of sexual offences,
and to ensure that victims of sexual offences are not deterred from coming forward,
I will not be providing the requested information. This is consistent with my answer
to Question 182068 and Question 199692.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD)
does not hold information on cases dealt with by the civil police, as these organisations
are not within the Department’s jurisdiction.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the number
of victims of sexual offences is provided by year, broken down by age, and separately
by gender, within the official annually published Murder, Manslaughter, Sexual Offences
and Domestic Abuse in the Service Justice System statistics: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sexual-offences-in-the-service-justice-system"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sexual-offences-in-the-service-justice-system</a>.
The published figures for victims of sexual offences are based on investigations opened,
and the most serious offence initially reported, not convictions. Not all investigations
result in an arrest or a charge.</p><p> </p><p>Defence has made it clear there is
zero tolerance to any form of sexual abuse.</p><p>Zero tolerance means that every
allegation of sexual offending or instructor/trainee sexual relationships will be
acted upon through prompt, thorough, efficient and independent investigation. When
a person is convicted of a sexual offence or an instructor is found to have engaged
in a sexual relationship with a trainee, their discharge is mandatory.</p>
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