Two (extremely heavily redacted)* reports have been published today, following an investigation into allegations of unacceptable behaviours in the RAF’s Red Arrows.
The reports show that unacceptable behaviours, including sexual harassment against service women, were widespread during the investigation period, which dated back to 2017. The Sqn was not a safe environment. Service women were subjected to unwanted physical contact, viewed as ‘property’, and victimised for their involvement in the inquiry. Where inappropriate consensual relations were disclosed, there was a significant rank differential.
The findings show how difficult it has been for service personnel to speak out and challenge these behaviours due what has been described as a widespread “bystander culture”.
Sadly, this culture remains as prevalent today as it was during the investigation period.
This is yet another opportunity – as if any were needed – for the MoD to accept that serious sexual harassment complaints must be handled by an independent body – not the services themselves. This ‘widespread’ and ‘normalised’ predatory behaviour towards women has been going on for years in the Red Arrows. We see it in the wider RAF too. With the behaviours described going back to 2017, the obvious question is why the behaviours went unchallenged and unreported for so long. If the Secretary of State is serious about addressing the behaviours, he must accept the recommendations of the Wigston Review of 2019 and the Defence Committee in 2021 and establish an independent body to handle these kinds of situations. Then more women will feel more confident about coming forward. This was a point made only last month by the family of the late Gar Jaysley Beck who was subject to relentless sexual harassment prior to her death.
The stakes could not be higher.
*CMJ has already requested a copy of the unredacted versions of these reports, under the Freedom of Information Act.
Lucy Baston, lawyer at CMJ