Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many allegations of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault were made within the chain of command against members of the armed forces in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013; and, of such cases, how many resulted in a prosecution by the Service Prosecution Authority.
Answered by Anna Soubry
All allegations of rape and sexual assault will be thoroughly investigated by either the civil or Service police, depending upon who has jurisdiction. The following table provides details of the number of allegations of rape and sexual assault made within the chain of command against members of the Armed Forces in each of the last four years as recorded by the Service Police. Reference to rape covers offences under section one and sexual assault covers offences under sections two and three of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Sexual Offence | Total Allegations in 2010 | Total Allegations in 2011 | Total Allegations in 2012 | Total Allegations in 2013 |
Rape | 23 | 20 | 22 | 25 |
Sexual Assault | 70 | 77 | 50 | 60 |
The following table provides details of the number of referrals to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) in each of the last four years, the number directed for trial and the number of convictions in the Military Court Service.
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
Rape Case Referrals | 21 | 18 | 22 | 20 |
Directed for Trial | 9 | 6 | 10 | 9 |
Convictions | 6 | 3 | 4 | 01 |
Sexual Assault Case Referrals | 51 | 70 | 31 | 45 |
Directed for Trial | 27 | 35 | 18 | 23 |
Convictions | 23 | 31 | 9 | 72 |
1Seven further cases are currently on trial.
2 11 Trials ongoing
The SPA may receive referrals in one year and the cases are directed/not directed and/or tried in the following year, so there is no direct correlation to the number of cases brought in any one year.
I should also like to take the opportunity to clarify the relationship between the figures provided in this answer, and earlier answers. The figures for sexual assaults in this answer are different to those provided by the then Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Andrew Robathan) on 6 July 2012 (Official Report, column 822W) in response to a question from the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon), for sexual assault referrals in the years between 2010 and 2012 (although 2012 was only for part of the year). This is because the term sexual assault has been expanded to cover the offences of indecent assault and sexual activity with a child. In addition, the figures provided in a response given by my predecessor (Mark Francois) on 30 November 2012 (Official Report, column 555W) again to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) referred only to the number of cases where the victim was a member of the Armed Forces. The figures in the tables above cover all cases handled by the SPA, whether or not the victim was a member of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many prosecutions of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault of members of the armed forces resulted in a conviction by the Military Courts Service in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013.
Answered by Anna Soubry
All allegations of rape and sexual assault will be thoroughly investigated by either the civil or Service police, depending upon who has jurisdiction. The following table provides details of the number of allegations of rape and sexual assault made within the chain of command against members of the Armed Forces in each of the last four years as recorded by the Service Police. Reference to rape covers offences under section one and sexual assault covers offences under sections two and three of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Sexual Offence | Total Allegations in 2010 | Total Allegations in 2011 | Total Allegations in 2012 | Total Allegations in 2013 |
Rape | 23 | 20 | 22 | 25 |
Sexual Assault | 70 | 77 | 50 | 60 |
The following table provides details of the number of referrals to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) in each of the last four years, the number directed for trial and the number of convictions in the Military Court Service.
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
Rape Case Referrals | 21 | 18 | 22 | 20 |
Directed for Trial | 9 | 6 | 10 | 9 |
Convictions | 6 | 3 | 4 | 01 |
Sexual Assault Case Referrals | 51 | 70 | 31 | 45 |
Directed for Trial | 27 | 35 | 18 | 23 |
Convictions | 23 | 31 | 9 | 72 |
1Seven further cases are currently on trial.
2 11 Trials ongoing
The SPA may receive referrals in one year and the cases are directed/not directed and/or tried in the following year, so there is no direct correlation to the number of cases brought in any one year.
I should also like to take the opportunity to clarify the relationship between the figures provided in this answer, and earlier answers. The figures for sexual assaults in this answer are different to those provided by the then Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Andrew Robathan) on 6 July 2012 (Official Report, column 822W) in response to a question from the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon), for sexual assault referrals in the years between 2010 and 2012 (although 2012 was only for part of the year). This is because the term sexual assault has been expanded to cover the offences of indecent assault and sexual activity with a child. In addition, the figures provided in a response given by my predecessor (Mark Francois) on 30 November 2012 (Official Report, column 555W) again to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) referred only to the number of cases where the victim was a member of the Armed Forces. The figures in the tables above cover all cases handled by the SPA, whether or not the victim was a member of the Armed Forces.