Taxpayer payouts for historic child sex abuse paint ‘stark and worrying picture’ for Ministry of Defence, lawyers say
The Ministry of Defence has spent more than £8m compensating survivors of historic child sex abuse committed by military personnel or on military bases since 2017, openDemocracy can reveal.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by this website revealed that 155 civil claims have been successfully brought against the MoD for non-recent child sex offences in the past eight years.
On average, each claim led to a survivor receiving a taxpayer-funded payout of £52,000.
If you or someone you know is affected by the issues raised in this article, the following organisations can help:
Confidential support and information to women who have survived any form of sexual violence, no matter how long ago. Also provides immediate support to friends and family on how to support female survivors of sexual violence.
Phone: 0808 802 9999 (12–2:30pm & 7–9:30pm daily). Website: Rape Crisis
Confidential support for anyone affected by sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened. They can also put you in touch with local rape crisis centres.
Phone: 0808 801 03 02. Website: Rape Crisis Scotland
Free support, advice and referral for any victim or domestic and sexual abuse in Northern Ireland.
Phone: 0808 802 1414 (24/7). Website: Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline
England & Wales: Visit the NHS website
Scotland: Visit the NHS inform website
Support and signposting for women, men and children who are survivors of rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse.
Phone: 0808 801 0818. Website: The Survivors Trust
Support for men and non-binary survivors of sexual abuse via an online helpline, counselling, Independent Sexual Violence Advisers, plus group and peer support services.
Website: Survivors UK
For anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.
Phone: 116 123. Email: jo@samaritans.org. Website: Samaritans
Emotional and practical help to victims or witnesses of any crime, whether or not it has been reported to the police.
Phone: 0808 16 89 111 (24/7). Website: Victim Support
Emotional and practical support to all victims and witnesses of crime across Scotland.
Phone: 0800 160 1985 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm). Website: Victim Support Scotland
Emotional and practical support to all victims and witnesses of crime across Northern Ireland.
Phone: 028 9024 3133. Website: Victim Support NI
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