Head of Royal Navy acknowledges ‘normalised’ bullying, misogyny and sexual harassment

Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, issued a statement of apology earlier this month. The admiral acknowledged that ‘misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours did occur’. Key further stated that poor practices and behaviours ‘should never have been considered acceptable’, adding that ‘to any personnel past or present that have been subject to any form of unacceptable behaviour during their time in service. I am truly sorry’. 

The statement follows the Royal Navy’s two-year inquiry into complaints of misogyny and sexual offences suffered by female service members, who comprise roughly 10% of the force. In total, 28 investigations were conducted resulting in 21 individuals being discharged, six being considered for disciplinary measures and four being reduced in rank. 

One former Royal Navy submariner who went public with her allegations in 2022, Sophie Brook, stated that the apology she has now received cannot just be a ‘token gesture’. 

Ms Brooks has publicly recounted instances of harassment and misogyny experienced during her service on board Royal Navy submarines, starting in 2014. She states that the ‘culture became pretty evident’ during her first mission when, aged 21, a senior officer posted coins to Ms Brook in exchange for oral sex. Other instances experienced by Brook include having found a nude officer in her bed adopting a sexual pose, and on another occasion experiencing ‘a fumble’ while trying to sleep, discovering an officer trying to climb into her bed to kiss her. ‘He just thought it was funny’, she explained. She also describes finding her name on a ‘crush depth rape list’ which ranked female sailors to be sexually assaulted should the submarine fail, as well as being told by a group of male colleagues they were going to perform a cervical exam atop a table.

Ms Brooks also confirmed that she experienced feeling powerless to the navy’s rank structure, experiencing ritual humiliation for ‘minor failings’, and that it was not uncommon for senior officers to try to distract junior service members on lookout. This would be by licking their ears or, on one occasion she experienced, by placing their penis in her pocket. Those who looked away from the periscope could expect a ‘kidney punch’, she added.

Commenting about these incidents, Ms Brooks stated she had expected a level of misogyny, but was ‘ashamed to say that I didn’t say ‘that’s wrong’, I suppose because I was scared’. ‘I wanted to integrate with them’, she explained. ‘I think I tried to just go with it’, ‘I had always expected a level of misogyny’. When she did raise concerns about her treatment with Royal Navy officials, Ms Brook was told ‘things will get better, you’re a trailblazer, you’ve got to expect that these things will happen’. Upon going public, she was accused of defrauding the navy for travel expenses, dismissed from service and awarded a five-month suspended prison sentence.

Ms Brook says her experiences caused her to self-harm, sometimes ‘to the point of needing stitches’. Of the 21 personnel discharged in connection with the admiralty’s investigations, three were directly related to Ms Brook’s complaints. 

However, an environment of bullying, intimidation and abuse is thought to have prevented some women from becoming whistleblowers like Ms Brook, with Sir Ben Key’s recent statement acknowledging that many are labelled ‘troublemakers’ or ‘dangerous girls’ for coming forward with their complaints.

In response to the investigation, the admiralty has confirmed that all complaints are being taken seriously, and that new measures are being implemented as part of a strategy to change the culture amongst some service members.

Unfortunately, Ms Brook is not alone in the abuse she suffered. In recent years it has emerged that misogyny and harassment towards women is commonplace across the various branches of military service. A 2021 survey by the Defence Sub-Committee on Women in the Armed Forces found that 58% of serving women and 64% of veterans experienced bullying, harassment and discrimination. Nearly 40% felt internal complaints procedures were ‘extremely poor’, as many believe not enough is done to address enduring misogyny and abuse.

Ms Brook states she has had contact with numerous others also alleging abuse in the armed forces ranging from ‘minor sexual assault all the way up to rape’.