Changing the “overly sexualised” culture in the military is likely to take several years, the army’s head of personal services has told an inquest.
Brigadier John Donnelly told the investigation into the death of teenage Deepcut recruit Cheryl James that army chiefs were given a “wake-up call” by a 2014 survey into the presiding culture of the UK military.
It found that 90% of respondents thought the culture to be “overly sexualised or sexualised”, while 39% said they had directly experienced sexual harassment or conduct short of sexual harassment.
The results led to a top-down response to change the culture, Donnelly said. “It was recognised the army needs to make a cultural change,” he said, adding: “It is not going to happen overnight.”
Army trainee recruit James, 18, from Llangollen, north Wales, was found dead with a bullet wound to the head on 27 November 1995 while on lone guard duty at the controversial Surrey barracks. She was one of four Deepcut recruits to die from bullet wounds at the camp between 1995 and 2002.
Giving evidence at her inquest for a second time, Donnelly said the army recognised there was a problem with inappropriate behaviour, including sexual harassment and bullying, and that changes were being made.
He said: “In 36 years in the army, I have never seen the amount of emphasis there has been to tackle one issue.” It came from the very top, the army chief of staff, he said.
A number of changes had been made across the army as a result of the deaths of James and the other recruits. At Deepcut no trainees were now used for guard duty. “We recognised that trainees in large part are not ready to take on guard duties,” he said.
Across the army in general trainees would only be put on guard duty in extreme situations and then only those aged 17 years or over who had been assessed and who would be supervised and never alone.
At Deepcut, too, trainee recruits only had access to live ammunition for firing practice on the range and when under supervision, he said.
A confidential helpline had been set up across the army for those wanting to report harassment or bullying. Punishment regulations had been tightened and it was made “absolutely clear there is no place in the army for unofficial punishments”.
The inquest has previously heard that James had been upset when another solider had “tried it on” with her while she was placed on restriction of privileges as punishment while she had previously been based at Leconfield base.
“A huge amount is going on operationally to drive out harassment,” said Donnelly.
He added: “I recognise that a number of changes have taken place since 1995. We got some things wrong and we took too long to recognise that. And I have apologised to Mr James,” he said, looking at Pte James’s father.
Alison Foster, QC, for the James family, asked him: “I suggest to you that at the centre of tackling these problems, it’s hearts and minds, it’s character and culture. It’s not just written policy.”
Donnelly replied: “Yes. I have already said that.” He dismissed her suggestion it was “over optimistic to think the army would change”.
“I think the army has got no option but to change,” he said. “The culture has got to change, but we are not complacent. And we do not think we are anywhere near that yet.”
When he previously appeared at the Woking inquest, Donnelly accepted there was a “highly sexualised atmosphere” at the barracks as well as an “abuse and misuse” of power. He also said it was a “morally chaotic environment” for a teenage woman.
The inquest continues.
