Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel have been prosecuted for domestic abuse in each of the last five years.

Domestic abuse is a very important issue and we treat allegations of domestic abuse very seriously. Where an allegation of domestic abuse is made to the Service police and they retain jurisdiction, they will investigate the matter fully; or, if an allegation is being investigated by the Civil police, the Service police will provide assistance as required.

The following table provides details of the number of Service personnel prosecuted for domestic abuse by the Service Prosecuting Authority at a Court Martial:

Notes:

Of the 12 cases in 2018, five cases directed for Court Martial are still awaiting trial.

Figures do not include cases prosecuted by other authorities, for example the Crown Prosecution Service, Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, the Procurator Fiscal or overseas authorities. Figures also do not include cases which may involve minor violence in a domestic setting which were dealt with at a Summary Hearing.