n anti-bullying helpline for armed forces personnel has been contacted the equal of greater than as soon as a day because it was arrange in 2020, figures present.
Labour shadow defence minister Stephanie Peacock welcomed the helpline getting used, however stated “personnel shouldn’t be experiencing such ranges of bullying, harassment and discrimination”.
In line with figures from the Ministry of Defence, the bullying, harassment, and discrimination helpline for defence personnel has acquired 660 calls within the interval between September 2020 and April this yr.
The helpline was arrange for service personnel experiencing or witnessing bullying, harassment or discrimination, to “clamp down on cases of unacceptable behaviour within the armed forces”.
The UK has round 200,000 armed forces personnel, together with regulars and reserves.
The most recent figures had been offered by defence minister Leo Docherty in response to a written parliamentary query from Ms Peacock.
The Labour shadow defence minister stated: “Although it’s welcome that members of our armed forces are in a position to flip to the helpline for assist, personnel shouldn’t be experiencing such ranges of bullying, harassment and discrimination.
“Final yr’s Girls within the Armed Forces report confirmed that there stays critical issues across the tradition in our forces, however ministers have repeatedly did not take steps to guard service personnel, particularly by transferring the intense circumstances of homicide, manslaughter, home violence and rape from army to civilian courts to enhance conviction charges.
“Labour would do that on the earliest potential alternative.”
Mr Docherty responded: “Unacceptable behaviour, which incorporates bullying, harassment and discrimination, is just not tolerated in defence.
“Those that fail to satisfy our values and requirements shall be handled appropriately, which incorporates using administrative, disciplinary or misconduct motion.
“Defence has a large programme of labor ongoing to stop and sort out unacceptable behaviour.
“This consists of the bullying, harassment and discrimination helpline, which is offered 24 hours a day and staffed independently by skilled professionals.
“The helpline has been working since September 2020. On this time, it has supported 660 workers throughout defence to entry assist and steering.”
