A long-awaited investigation into sexual harassment and abuse onboard the UK’s nuclear-armed submarines has found “intolerable” misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours.
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the navy, ordered an internal inquiry into the claims made in October 2022 by Sophie Brook, a former naval officer, and other women about their treatment while serving in the elite Submarine Service.
After first going public, she said she had “multiple people contacting me saying the same thing happened to me… that ranged from minor sexual assault all the way up to rape”.
Ms Brook, who could have become the first female captain of a submarine but has since left the navy, gave evidence to the investigation as well as to the military police.
She previously told Sky News: “There is sexual assault, sexual harassment, and misogyny is widespread within the Submarine Service.”
Sir Ben said the “investigation has confirmed misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours did occur during the investigation period, and this is intolerable”.
He said he has apologised to Ms Brook “personally and unreservedly, praising her courage in coming forward,” and offered a public apology to her and any former or serving personnel that have been subject to any “unacceptable behaviour”.
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“I am truly sorry,” he said. “While much has been done to improve the experiences of personnel in the Royal Navy in recent years, such as establishing zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviours and improving avenues to raise concerns, there is more to be done.”
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Ms Brook joined the Submarine Service after a ban on female submariners was lifted in 2011, but alleged she suffered hostility and harassment from the start.
The former lieutenant previously told Sky it left her “self-harming to the point of needing stitches”, and would “cry in her bed”.
She said she initially raised concerns internally about her alleged mistreatment onboard the nuclear-armed submarines that provide the UK’s nuclear deterrence – the cornerstone of UK security.
But she claimed the Royal Navy turned on her, accusing her of fraud and of revealing information about the movement of a submarine.
Ms Brook was formally dismissed from the service in June 2022 and handed a five-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, but by that time, she had already resigned and left the navy.
