Army recruits at risk from abuse

Army recruits are at high risk of bullying, harassment, self-harm and injury, an independent report has claimed.

The report, conducted by the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) also found that there were high drop-out rates and said that training and welfare needed to be "better managed, better organised and better controlled".

The ALI report was undertaken following an inquiry into the deaths of four young soldiers at Deepcut Barracks in Surrey. Sean Benton, James Collinson, Geoff Gray and Cheryl James all died from gunshot wounds in unexplained incidents at the base. They were all aged between 17 and 20.

The ALI found that one in ten military personnel reported suffering some form of bullying and harassment, with the newest recruits, women and those from ethnic groups being the most vulnerable to abuse.

The report also found that racist taunts were often not regarded as being important, instead being dismissed as "banter" or excused as being part of a tradition of "nicknames".

Figures recorded by the armed service showed that suicide among male army recruits under the age of 20 was 1.7 times higher than civilians and "several times" that of those in that age group in both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

The report also said that living conditions for some recruits were "unacceptable" and described as "little better than slums".

The storing of weapons and weapons was also criticised, the report stating that "examples of laxity" had been found. This posed "an unnecessary risk" to the safety of recruits, the ALI said.

The ALI also criticised the early dropout rate, which the report said was "very high". The report said that this was frequently dismissed as "inevitable", but it was "costly" in terms of wasted money, staff time and "distress" to young people.

The ALI said that training and welfare of recruits needed to be more professionally managed. The ALI recommended that commanding officers should spend more than two years in a training establishment, receive proper training before they take up their roles and be rewarded in line with operational duty. The report also said that managing the risks to recruits and safeguarding their welfare should be the duty of everyone involved in training.

Commenting on the report, David Sherlock, Chief Inspector of ALI, said: "This is a tough report but it looks forward – not back. The goal the ALI shares with ministers, with the armed forces, with recruits and with their families is not only safer training, but better training."

Mr Sherlock concluded: "If our recommendations are implemented with determination, we consider that very great improvement could be made in two or three years. Our report is a wake-up call, but one which can lead quickly to a better future for all concerned."

The report was welcomed by Minister for the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram. He said: "This ALI report helps us to learn how our very best training establishments deliver world-class servicemen and women while effectively managing the inevitable risks of training. We will use this information to raise the standards of all defence training establishments."

(KmcA/MB)