Speeches

Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cases of (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and (c) domestic violence were investigated by each branch of the Armed Forces Police where the alleged offending took place in the UK in each year from 2009 to 2013; and of these, how many were (i) not referred to a prosecutor, (ii) referred to the Crown Prosecution Service and (iii) referred to the Services Prosecution Authority.

Anna Soubry

All allegations of rape, sexual assaults and domestic violence made by members of the Armed Forces are thoroughly investigated by either the civil or Service police, depending upon who has jurisdiction. The tables below show the number of alleged cases of rape and sexual assault (including assault by penetration) that were investigated by each branch of the Service police where the alleged offence took place in the UK in each year from 2009 to 2013; the number not referred to a prosecutor; the number referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA); and the number still under investigation. The Service police do not refer investigations to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Rape- investigations by the Royal Navy Police (RNP)

Year

Total Investigated by RNP

Total Referred to SPA

Total Not Referred to SPA

Still Under Investigation

2009

(from 1 Nov)

0

0

0

0

2010

2

1

1

0

2011

0

0

0

0

2012

0

0

0

0

2013

1

1

0

0

Sexual Assault (including assault by penetration) Investigations by RNP

Year

Total Investigated by RNP

Total Referred to SPA

Total Not Referred to SPA

Still Under Investigation

2009

(from 1 Nov)

3

2

1

0

2010

1

1

0

0

2011

1

0

1

0

2012

2

0

2

0

2013

7

5

2

0

Rape- investigations by the Royal Military Police (RMP)

Year

Total Investigated by RMP

Total Referred to SPA

Total Not Referred to SPA

Still Under Investigation

2009

(from 1 Nov)

0

0

0

0

2010

2

0

2

0

2011

7

6

1

0

2012

6

4

2

0

2013

9

2

1

6

Sexual Assault (including assault by penetration) Investigations by RMP

Year

Total Investigated by RMP

Total Referred to SPA

Total Not Referred to SPA

Still Under Investigation

2009

(from 1 Nov)

2

1

1

0

2010

26

24

2

0

2011

18

13

5

0

2012

15

10

5

0

2013

25

19

3

3

Rape- investigations by the Royal Air Force Police (RAFP)

Year

Total Investigated by RAFP

Total Referred to SPA

Total Not Referred to SPA

Still Under Investigation

2009

(from 1 Nov)

0

0

0

0

2010

3

1

2

0

2011

3

2

1

0

2012

2

2

0

0

2013

2

1

1

0

Sexual Assault (including assault by penetration) Investigations by RAFP

Year

Total Investigated by RAFP

Total Referred to SPA

Total Not Referred to SPA

Still Under Investigation

2009

(from 1 Nov)

2

0

2

0

2010

8

5

3

0

2011

5

4

1

0

2012

3

3

0

0

2013

3

1

2

0

Note: These tables only detail investigations where the appropriate Service police retained jurisdiction and investigative lead.

Figures relating to Domestic Violence could only be provided at disproportionate costs.