In another case reported by the BBC earlier this year, ‘Kate’ expressed her unhappiness with the unit’s handling of her rape allegation against a colleague in the Army which despite being supported by evidence of physical injuries, she said missed multiple lines of inquiry.
The BBC shared a copy of the leaked review with Emma Norton, founder of the Centre for Military Justice, who said it reflected the concerns of many of her clients.
She told the BBC that despite some recent improvements they continue to see “serious shortcomings in the arrangements for military police complaints, poor handling of allegations of coercive control and behaviour”.
The report indicated there was still resistance to giving victims of serious crime the accountability and justice they deserved, she said.
In another case, Rosie, not her real name, was in a relationship with a member of the Army and said she was violently assaulted by him in September 2023.
She said she was dragged down stairs and violently pushed out into the street, suffering cuts, bruises and burns.
She said she reported the incident to the service police who then referred it to the DSCC.
The Service Prosecuting Authority advised there was a realistic prospect of conviction for battery if charges were made within a time limit of six months.
However, the unit did not refer the charges within the required time window.
The DSCC later stated the delay was due to a high caseload and issued an apology, accepting that “the level of service received in this incident was below the standard that would have been accepted”.