UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Female defense workers at the Ministry of Defence report persistent sexual harassment despite previous allegations, demanding an independent inquiry.
As reported by The Guardian, a top union claims female staff at the Ministry of Defence say minimal action has been taken to tackle sexual harassment.
What did Prospect say about confidence in sexual harassment action?
According to a survey of female Prospect union members in defence, confidence in efforts to tackle harassment has sharply declined, falling from 47% in January 2024 to 39% in February 2025.
In a letter to the Defence Minister, Alistair Carns has urged Prospect for an
“independent, solutions-focused inquiry with sufficient authority to deliver a very necessary shock to the system’ amid mounting concerns.”
The survey reveals a worrying lack of progress in tackling sexual harassment at work. Over 57% of participants said they saw no action in the last 12 months, and 46% reported that their employers failed to take any steps.
Public trust in tackling workplace sexual harassment is on the decline.
New figures show a drop from 47% in January 2024 to 39% in February 2025.
Confidence among MoD-affiliated bodies saw the sharpest fall, dropping from 46% to just 29%. Survey data show a drop from 65% in 2024 to 58% in 2025.
The MoD saw a drop from 63% to 55%, and in its affiliated bodies, confidence fell from 61% to 56%.
While most participants still consider behaviours in the defence sector toxic, the percentage has declined. This perception has decreased from 65% in 2024 to 58% in 2025.
According to a union survey from last year, around 60% of respondents raised concerns about workplace harassment. The same percentage also observed unwanted behaviour taking place around them.
A follow-up survey was conducted to track shifts in attitudes and perceptions. It also examined the effectiveness of actions implemented by MoD leadership.
What did Sue Ferns say about the state of sexual harassment in the MoD?
Sue Ferns, the senior deputy general secretary of Prospect, stated,
“More than a year has passed since a series of disturbing revelations about the extent of sexual harassment in the MoD and wider defence sector, and women do not feel that anything has changed. In fact, in several respects, things have worsened.”
She said,
“Nothing less than a wholesale, top-down culture change will make this a sector that women feel safe working in. Our view is that an independent, solutions-focused inquiry is the best way to deliver the shock the industry needs to change.”
Ms Ferns added,
“The international situation has not been this perilous in a generation. We need the best people working in defence, and we need to get the best out of them. That is not going to happen if 50% of the population are being made to feel ill at ease due to the culture of misogyny and harassment.”
How many women wrote a letter to the MoD alleging sexual assault?
A group of around 60 senior women at the MoD wrote to the department in 2023, explaining allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse by male colleagues. Unions have been calling for stricter action, urging the department to take decisive steps.
The letter included serious revelations of women being propositioned, groped, and touched by male workers. The civil servants said the workplace environment was “hostile to women as equal and respected partners.”
What did the MoD spokesperson say about the allegations in the letter from 60 women?
A department spokesperson stated at the time of the letter from 60 women,
“No woman should be made to feel unsafe in the Ministry of Defence, and this behaviour is not tolerated. We are committed to stamping this out, and we continue to encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed this kind of inexcusable behaviour to report it immediately.”
The department later said,
“Sexual harassment is completely unacceptable, and we are committed to stamping it out wherever it is found. We encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed this kind of inexcusable conduct to report it immediately.”
They added,
“As part of our plan to address instances of unacceptable behaviour, we launched a review of our complaints procedure in consultation with external bodies, including trade unions who are able to input.”
Sexual harassment at work in the UK
- TUC Report (2022)
- 58% of women and 35% of men have experienced sexual harassment at work.
- 79% of women did not report the harassment to their employer.
- Only 1% of men reported harassment to their employer.
- Government Equalities Office (2020)
- 29% of employees (around 9 million people) have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work.
- 16% of women and 7% of men reported experiencing unwanted sexual attention (e.g., inappropriate touching).
- BBC Survey (2017)
- 53% of women and 20% of men said they had experienced sexual harassment at work.
- 63% of victims did not report it.