Army's Failure To Fulfil Bullying Pledge To Court ‘Raises Doubts On Reform'

The sister of Pte Sean Benton, who killed himself at Deepcut barracks, Surrey, has accused the British army of treating victims’ families with contempt after it emerged the military had failed to honour a pledge made at his inquest in 2018.

- ​​​​​​​Dan Sabbagh

Tracy Lewis said the coroner was told that recruits would be informed they could report serious physical or sexual assaults to the police, a commitment intended to help tackle bullying and harassment in the ranks.

But during follow-up inquiries by Benton’s family this year, it emerged the army had not acted as promised to the court – forcing the Ministry of Defence to apologise and to belatedly rewrite its training materials.

“The army promised my family that they would ensure that trainees and recruits in the army today fully understand that if something bad happens to them – like a serious sexual or physical assault – that they can report to the civilian police and don’t have to go to the military authorities,” Lewis said.