The UK Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, has expressed his outrage at reports of rape and sexual abuse of young female recruits at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Four women have come forward to the BBC, detailing their experiences of sexual assault and harassment while attending the college, and describing a culture of misogyny and sexual violence. The Defence Secretary has promised to look into what went wrong at the college and to lead a programme of culture change across the armed forces.
The Army has urged victims and witnesses to come forward, stating that unacceptable and criminal behaviour has no place in the armed forces. The Army Foundation College is the largest military training establishment for under-19s in the UK, and receives all the Army's 16-year-old recruits. According to North Yorkshire Police, 16 reports of sexual offences linked to the college were made in the year to June, including allegations of exposure, voyeurism, and sexual assault. Ministry of Defence data shows that 176 complaints of inappropriate sexual behaviour were made at the college between January 2018 and June2025.
The women, who have chosen to remain anonymous, all attended the college over the last five years. One woman, who was 17 at the time, reported being raped by several fellow soldiers who invited her into their room. Another woman's story was shared by her mother, who said her daughter was sexually assaulted and subjected to almost daily sexual harassment during her training. The mother reported that her daughter had to sleep across the door to her room to prevent male soldiers from entering, as the lock was not working.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has sympathised with the women who have been "badly failed" and praised them for speaking up. He stated that the armed forces have a duty to uphold the highest standards and to treat every woman with dignity and respect. Streeting also acknowledged the need to ensure that the armed forces are a safe and welcoming environment for women, saying that he does not want anyone who has the ambition and talent to join the armed forces to be deterred.
Former MP Sarah Atherton, who led a2021 government review into the experiences of women in the armed forces, has called for an independent inquiry into the college, stating that public confidence can only be restored through such an inquiry. Emma Lewell MP has also spoken out, saying that if the college were any other school or residential environment for children, it would have been closed down. The Children's Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has vowed to ensure that the "appalling attacks" are investigated and that those responsible are held to account.
The Ministry of Defence has stated that the college welcomes external scrutiny and challenge, and has hosted various safeguarding bodies and parliamentarians in the last year. However, the need for a thorough investigation and culture change is clear, and the Defence Secretary's promise to take action is a step in the right direction. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what concrete actions will be taken to address the allegations and to ensure that the armed forces are a safe and respectful environment for all personnel.
