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, if he could place in the Library a table showing, for each branch of the Armed Forces Police, the number of cases of (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and (c) domestic violence that were (i) reported, (ii) referred to a prosecutor, (iii) directed for trial, (iv) led to a conviction, (v) led to an acquittal and (vi) led to a custodial sentence in each year between 2009 to 2013.
Anna Soubry
All allegations of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence made by or against members of the Armed Forces are thoroughly investigated. An investigation may be conducted by either the civil or Service Police.
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 in each year from 2009 to 2013, the number referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) and the result of those referrals. The SPA can receive formal referrals only from either Service Police or the Commanding Officer.
It should be noted that the SPA may receive referrals in one year which relate to allegations and investigations made in previous years and that such cases may be directed, disposed and/or tried in following years. There is therefore no direct correlation between investigations and referrals and the number of cases brought in any one year.
ROYAL NAVY POLICE (RNP) INVESTIGATIONS
Rape
|
Year |
Total Investigated by RNP |
Total Referred to SPA |
Directed For Trial |
Acquitted |
Convicted |
Custodial sentence |
|
2009 (Figures in first column are from 1 Nov –figures in subsequent columns are for all of 2009) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2010 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
2011 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2013 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Sexual Assault (including assault by penetration)
|
Year |
Total Investigated by RNP |
Total Referred to SPA |
Directed For Trial |
Acquitted |
Convicted |
Custodial sentence |
|
2009 (Figures in first column are from 1 Nov –figures in subsequent columns are for all of 2009) |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
2010 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
2011 |
10 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
2012 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2013 |
11 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
ROYAL MILITARY POLICE (RMP) INVESTIGATIONS
Rape
|
Year |
Total Investigated by RMP |
Total Referred to SPA |
Directed For Trial |
Acquitted |
Convicted |
Custodial sentence |
|
2009 (Figures in first column are from 1 Nov –figures in subsequent columns are for all of 2009) |
3 |
16 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
|
2010 |
19 |
20 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
|
2011 |
18 |
17 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2012 |
22 |
18 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
|
2013 |
23 |
15 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2013 – DIRECTED FOR TRIAL – 3 cases yet to go to trial
Sexual Assault (including assault by penetration)
|
Year |
Total Investigated by RMP |
Total Referred to SPA |
Directed For Trial |
Acquitted |
Convicted |
Custodial sentence |
|
2009 (Figures in first column are from 1 Nov –figures in subsequent columns are for all of 2009) |
9 |
24 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
2010 |
64 |
42 |
24 |
3 |
21 |
13 |
|
2011 |
48 |
60 |
28 |
2 |
25 |
20 |
|
2012 |
36 |
26* |
15 |
9 |
6 |
4 |
|
2013 |
43 |
34 |
17 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
2013 – DIRECTED FOR TRIAL – 3 cases yet to go to trial
* We previously advised this as being “28”, but on re-investigation realised we have included 2 other Service police referrals that were not for sexual assault.
ROYAL AIR FORCE POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
Rape
|
Year |
Total Investigated by RAFP |
Total Referred to SPA |
Directed For Trial |
Acquitted |
Convicted |
Custodial sentence |
|
2009 (Figures in first column are from 1 Nov –figures in subsequent columns are for all of 2009) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2010 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2011 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
2013 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2013 – DIRECTED FOR TRIAL – 2 cases yet to go to trial
Sexual Assault (including assault by penetration)
|
Year |
Total Investigated by RAFP |
Total Referred to SPA |
Directed For Trial |
Acquitted |
Convicted |
Custodial sentence |
|
2009 (Figures in first column are from 1 Nov –figures in subsequent columns are for all of 2009) |
3 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
2010 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
2011 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
|
2012 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
2013 |
8 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2013 – DIRECTED FOR TRIAL – 1 case yet to go to trial
Domestic violence is not a crime classification, but may be recorded under the crime classification of violence, for example battery, assault or grievous bodily harm. For the Service Police to establish which offences are as a result of domestic violence would require an individual review of all cases, which could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
I apologise for not replying sooner; it has taken some time to ensure the accuracy of the data.
