New data obtained by CRIN reveals a sharp increase in reports of sexual violence against girls in the UK armed forces.

New data from the Ministry of Defence, obtained by CRIN through Freedom of Information request, has revealed a sharp increase in reports of sexual violence against girls in the UK armed forces in recent years.

The data shows:

• Girls aged under 18 in the armed forces have made 41 complaints of rape and sexual assault to the military police since 2015; one report for every 40 girls in the military. Under-reporting of sexual offences means the true prevalence is likely to be higher [1].

• Reports of rape and sexual assault have been increasing in recent years. There have already been 10 reports this year, compared to one report in 2015.

• From 2015-20, girls in the armed forces were twice as likely as their civilian peers to report a rape or sexual assault to the police [2].

The Armed Forces Bill is currently going through the House of Lords. Major children's and human rights organisations have called on the Government to use the Bill to end armed forces recruitment of children under the age of 18.

Read coverage of this story in The Times here.

You can find more information about CRIN’s work on military enlistment, including resources on this issue, here.

Notes

1. According to Rape Crisis, 'only around 15% of those who experience sexual violence report to the police'.

2. Based on comparison with data from the Office for National Statistics on reports to the police of rape and sexual assault by civilian girls in the same age group. Calculations available on request.

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