Four young women who attended the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, have told the BBC they were sexually assaulted and harassed while training at the establishment for 17-year-olds. They allege that a culture of misogyny and sexual violence existed at the college. Their accounts have prompted calls from MPs for an independent inquiry into the “culture, leadership and safeguarding practices” at AFC. The women say they were assaulted and harassed during their time at AFC over the past five years. Their identities are protected by changes to their names. Calls For an Independent inquirySarah Atherton, the former MP for Wrexham, said public confidence in the college could only be restored through an independent inquiry. Atherton, who previously served in the Army’s Intelligence Corps, led a 2021 government review into women’s experiences in the armed forces. Atherton said concerns at AFC Harrogate were raised years ago, and that subsequent data and complaints suggested problems continued without sufficient action. Emma Lewell MP, who sits on the Defence Committee, said that if the alleged conduct had occurred in any other school or residential setting for children, it would likely have been shut down. She added that there has been a long-running pattern of complaints relating to sexual assault, bullying and other forms of abuse, and urged an urgent investigation led by someone with safeguarding expertise. Two Lib Dem MPs, Tom Gordon and James MacCleary, have also written to Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. In their letter, they said it was essential that the full facts be established openly, and that any systemic barriers preventing victims from coming forward be examined, including whether reporting mechanisms work and whether safeguarding arrangements are consistently applied. Allegations And Previous InvestigationsAccording to the 2021 Atherton review, which took evidence from more than 4,200 women, cases included rape and the sexual exploitation of under-18s, along with findings that some women had been drugged before assaults. The review concluded that women were being “denied justice” through a “woefully inadequate” military complaints process. Atherton told the BBC that the “best way to establish the facts” would be an independent inquiry, arguing that parents, staff and recruits deserve clear answers and accountability. One woman, “Tilly”, told the BBC she was raped at AFC by several fellow soldiers after being invited into a room. Another woman, “Amy”, said her mother shared her account of sexual assault and near-daily harassment, adding that a malfunctioning room lock meant she slept across the doorway to stop male soldiers entering. Another woman described how attitudes she said were encouraged or tolerated at AFC affected some male teenagers, and recalled an instructor allegedly saying the focus was on how much sexual access could be obtained. Complaints, Police Data And Army ResponseNorth Yorkshire Police told the BBC, in response to a Freedom of Information request, that it received 16 reports of sexual offences linked to the college in the year to June. The force said the allegations included exposure, voyeurism and sexual assault, but provided no information on whether the reports resulted in prosecutions. Ministry of Defence (MoD) data cited by the BBC shows 176 complaints of inappropriate sexual behaviour at the college were made between January 2018 and June 2025. The Army said “unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place” in its Armed Forces and urged victims and witnesses to come forward. It said reforms have been introduced to support victims, including specialist help through the Defence Serious Crime Command, which operates outside the Army chain of command. The MoD said AFC “welcomes external scrutiny and challenge”, adding that in the past year the college hosted safeguarding bodies, parliamentarians, the Children’s Commissioner’s office and the Armed Forces Commissioner, and received an “outstanding” report from Ofsted. Wider Safeguarding ContextThe BBC reports that the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, said she would ensure the alleged attacks are investigated and that those responsible, including those who failed to safeguard the girls, are held to account. She said children living away from home have a right to contact her team for support, and that she would ensure girls at AFC can access that help. The MoD also said a report last year found 67% of women in the armed forces experienced at least one sexualised behaviour in the previous 12 months, compared with 34% of men. The renewed allegations come amid broader cases of sexual assault in the armed forces. Last year, an ex-army sergeant major was jailed for six months for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier, who later died by suicide. An inquest said the assault and the Army’s failure to take appropriate action “more than minimally” contributed to her death. Join the discussion? 7 August 2026
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