Bullying Complaints In Ministry Of Defence Soar Over Four Years

Bullying complaints made by civilian workers in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have surged over four years, according to new data released by ministers.

Complaints received by the MoD rose from 20 in 2019 to 53 in 2020, 76 in 2021 and 78 in 2022, before dropping to 56 in 2023. The number of bullying complaints which were resolved was 21 in 2019, 28 in 2020 and 18 in 2021. This figure rose to 72 in 2022 and soared to 93 in 2023.

The figures were published by Parliament after Maria Eagle, Labour MP for Garston and Halewood, tabled a series of written questions to the MoD. The data from the last five calendar years was given out on 19 January by Dr Andrew Murrison, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People and Families.

Eagle, who is a Labour Shadow Defence Minister, told PoliticsHome the figures were “shameful” and showed a “deeply concerning upward trend” in bullying. She claimed it was the “latest example of the Tories’ fourteen years of failure in defence”.

“Ministers must lead from the top to root out unacceptable behaviour in the MoD and the Armed Forces,” Eagle said. “Labour in Government will also legislate to establish an Armed Forces Commissioner to act as a strong independent voice to improve the lives of serving personnel and their families.”

Harassment complaints made by civilian workers and received by the MoD rose from 11 to 15 between 2019 and 2020. The number of harassment complaints which were resolved rose from 26 in 2019 to 33 in 2020 and then 67 in 2021. This number fell to three in 2022 and six in 2023.

Discrimination cases in the MoD were not an "explicitly defined category" prior to 2022. However, in 2022 the MoD received 23 discrimination complaints and six more in 2023. It resolved 19