Army teen college rocked by sexual abuse claims from female recruits Former recruits describe 'culture of misogyny'Four former female recruits have accused an Army training college for teenagers of fostering a culture of sexual violence, harassment and misogyny, with one alleging she was gang-raped by fellow junior soldiers during an attack that lasted for hours. The women, who all attended the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, over the past five years, say the incidents occurred when they were just 17 years old. All are speaking publicly for the first time, using pseudonyms to protect their identities. Serious allegations emergeOne former recruit, known as Tilly, said she was lured into a room by fellow trainees before being sexually assaulted and raped by multiple junior soldiers. She reported the alleged attack to police, but no charges were brought. The Crown Prosecution Service later criticised the police investigation as "entirely inadequate", and Tilly subsequently received a financial settlement from North Yorkshire Police, although the force admitted no liability. Three other women described separate incidents of sexual assault, harassment and intimidation, with one saying she slept against her bedroom door because the lock was broken and she feared male recruits entering her room. Figures reveal scale of complaintsThe BBC has revealed that North Yorkshire Police received 16 reports of sexual offences linked to the college in the year to June, including allegations of sexual assault, voyeurism and indecent exposure. Ministry of Defence figures also show 176 complaints of inappropriate sexual behaviour were recorded at the college between January 2018 and June 2025. Of those, 144 complaints involved junior soldiers, while 32 were made against permanent staff. The Army stressed that unacceptable or criminal behaviour has "absolutely no place" in the Armed Forces and urged anyone with information to come forward. Claims instructors fuelled toxic cultureSeveral of the women claimed misogynistic attitudes among some instructors contributed to an unhealthy environment. One former recruit alleged instructors openly rated female recruits' appearances, entered female accommodation without knocking and made crude sexual remarks in front of teenage soldiers. Another claimed that after reporting her alleged rape she was mocked by an instructor, who allegedly referred to her using offensive sexual slurs in front of other recruits. The allegations are separate from previous cases in which instructors at the college were convicted by courts martial for sexual offences against colleagues. Calls for independent inquiryLabour MP Emma Lewell, a member of the Defence Committee, said the allegations raise serious safeguarding concerns and called for an independent inquiry into the college. She argued that if similar allegations had emerged at any other institution responsible for children, it would already be facing far greater scrutiny. The Army responded by pointing to recent safeguarding inspections, saying the college had been recognised for its standards of care and that reforms have been introduced to improve support for victims outside the normal chain of command. Wider concerns across the Armed ForcesThe latest allegations add to longstanding concerns about the treatment of women in the military. Previous parliamentary reviews uncovered cases involving rape, sexual exploitation and harassment, while an internal Ministry of Defence survey found that two-thirds of female service personnel experienced at least one form of sexualised behaviour over a 12-month period. For the former recruits speaking out, however, the issue goes beyond statistics. Several said their dream of serving in the Army was destroyed by their experiences at Harrogate, with one saying she would never encourage her own daughter to enlist after what she endured. SOURCE
Create an account or sign in to comment