Key facts
- Four young women have reported experiencing rape, sexual assault, and harassment at the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate.
- The alleged incidents occurred over the past five years when the women were 17 years old.
- One woman reported being raped by multiple fellow junior soldiers in an attack that lasted hours.
- North Yorkshire Police received 16 reports of sexual offenses linked to the college in the year to June.
- A total of 176 complaints of inappropriate sexual behavior at the college were made between January 2018 and June 2025.
Calls are intensifying for an independent inquiry into the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate following serious allegations of rape, sexual assault, and harassment by four young women who attended the institution as teenagers. The women, who were 17 at the time of the alleged incidents, described a culture of misogyny and sexual violence. One recounted being raped by multiple junior soldiers over several hours, feeling like "a piece of meat." Another's room had a faulty lock, leading her to sleep across the door for protection. Instructors allegedly promoted misogynistic attitudes, with one reportedly saying, "It's all about the pussy and how much of it you can get."
North Yorkshire Police received 16 reports of sexual offenses linked to the college in the year to June, including allegations of exposure, voyeurism, and sexual assault. Between January 2018 and June 2025, a total of 176 complaints of inappropriate sexual behavior were made at the college, involving both staff and junior soldiers. Former MP Sarah Atherton, who led a 2021 review into women's experiences in the armed forces, stated that concerns at AFC Harrogate were raised years ago and that an independent inquiry is the best way to establish facts and restore public confidence. MP Emma Lewell emphasized the urgency for an inquiry led by a safeguarding expert, noting ongoing complaints about sexual assault, bullying, and abuse.
The Army stated that "unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces" and is implementing reforms, including specialist support for victims through the Defence Serious Crime Command. A Ministry of Defence report last year found that 67% of women in the armed forces experienced sexualised behavior in the previous 12 months, compared to 34% of men. The inquest into Gunner Jaysley Beck's death revealed that the Army's failure to take appropriate action after she reported a sexual assault "more than minimally" contributed to her subsequent suicide.