More than a dozen ladies stepped forward to report a staff sergeant in the Royal Military Police (RMP) for sexual abuse, but he was allowed to resign from the army rather than face charges. That’s what a whistleblower, who served as a sergeant in the RMP for over a decade, claims. Amy, not her real name, says she was one of the man’s victims and describes a “toxic” culture in the military police where sexual predators are getting away with their actions.
Inside the Royal Military Police, the corps tasked with investigating crime in the army, Amy revealed how the man who assaulted her would enter women’s rooms and sit on their beds. She mentioned how he used to force her to go out driving with him at night and discuss sexual topics. “He preyed on the young, new females that were in the unit,” she recalls.
Amy also brought up incidents where the man assaulted her in public. “One day, I was out with my friends in town and he was on patrol… There were two of us that went over to speak to him and I had quite a low-cut top on,” she explains. “So he hooked his finger around my top and pulled my boob out.” She goes on to recount how he escalated the assault by grabbing her hand and placing it on his private part.
Reflecting on her time in the army, Amy expresses her bitterness towards her military career and mentions the lack of accountability in the system. She shares her disappointment in the fact that the staff sergeant she reported for sexual assault was allowed to resign without facing any charges, ultimately getting away with his actions.
Katie, another individual who served in the army for over 20 years, shares her story of experiencing sexual abuse and harassment during her time in the military. She recalls feeling dehumanized and like property rather than a person after reporting the abuse she faced. Despite her efforts to report abusers on behalf of other victims, she found the system to be more toxic than she had imagined.
Both Amy and Katie highlight the need for accountability within the military and express their doubts about the effectiveness of recent changes made by the Ministry of Defence. They believe that investigations need to be conducted completely separately from the military to ensure impartiality and justice for victims.
The Ministry of Defence states that unacceptable behavior has no place in the Armed Forces and mentions the establishment of new initiatives to address complaints of sexual violence and harassment. However, Amy argues that the Royal Military Police is not upholding the standards it should be enforcing within its own ranks, leading to a lack of accountability and justice for victims.
In conclusion, the stories of Amy and Katie shed light on the challenges faced by individuals who report sexual abuse in the military. Their experiences highlight the need for significant changes to ensure accountability and justice for victims of abuse within the armed forces.
