Royal Navy find misogyny and bullying in Submarine Service

File photo of a Royal Navy submarine

Women in the Submarine Services have suffered misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours, a Royal Navy investigation has found.

This behaviour was seen "amongst all ranks" in the past, the report said, but was "not pervasive across the entire Submarine Service".

The head of the Navy, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key, said he was "truly sorry" adding such behaviour was "intolerable".

The two-year-long investigation was ordered in October 2022, following allegations by a former member of the Royal Navy. The allegations dealt with in the report spanned from 2014 to 2020.

The female whistleblower whose claims sparked the investigation alleged a culture of sexual assault, sexual harassment and misogyny was widespread within the Submarine Service.

Adm Sir Ben said he had met the woman hours before the report was published to offer a personal and unreserved apology. He also praised her courage in coming forward.

After the initial complaint, other women came forward to report allegations of unacceptable sexual behaviour.

Overall, the Navy said it had conducted 28 separate investigations leading to the discharge of 18 individuals, with four being reduced in rank and six facing disciplinary or administrative action.

The investigation has not led to any charges of sexual assault, but a number of individuals have been discharged from the Navy following the investigation.

Some of the allegations were reported to the MOD’s serious crime unit but the Navy said there was insufficient evidence to bring prosecutions.

In a statement released on Friday, Sir Ben said the recommendations from the investigation had been accepted in full, including the establishment of a new head of culture, alongside changes to training in the Submarine Service.

The admiral said that a number of measures were being taken to address what he has called “appalling behaviours” against women – who make up just over 10% of the service.

Admiral Sir Ben Key (right) with former Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden

In the statement, Sir Ben continued: "Poor practices and behaviours in the past that may have been normalized in some quarters should never have been considered acceptable, and they have no place today, we must institute a culture that does not allow space for this behaviour to exist, and we must deal with perpetrators swiftly, without fear or favour, which I can confirm we have now done.”

He added that the service "must be better" and "do better than we have" and offered a public apology.

The investigation followed complaints of bullying and sexual harassment against women.

One woman, who spent several months at sea on board Royal Navy warships, told the BBC about an incident in 2019 when an officer stuck his hand up her skirt while they were drinking in the Officer's Mess.

When she protested and put a stop to things by announcing she was returning to her cabin, the officer followed her to her room and "hammered on my door, condom in hand", she said.