Public Servant Lifestyle

Revised 'best practice' procedures are now in place for the handling of harassment complaints across the Royal Navy (RN), Army, Royal Air Forces (RAF) and the Ministry Of Defence (MoD) Civil Service.

For the past 18 months, the MOD has been examining the existing Services and civilian harassment complaints processes. Harassment is treated extremely seriously by the MOD, with a zero tolerance policy in place. However, the processes by which complaints were dealt with previously differed between the Services, and within the MOD Civil Service.

Under the new approach, the best practice from each Service and the MOD Civil Service has been encapsulated into one 'procedure for handling, investigating and acting on harassment complaints'. This has been set out in a new Joint Service Publication - The MoD Harassment Complaints Procedure.

Welcoming the revised procedure, Chief of the Defence Staff - General Sir Michael Walker - said: "This revised harassment procedure sets out in clear and unambiguous terms what is involved in making a complaint of harassment, considering and investigating it and dealing with the resolution. It will be an invaluable source of advice."

"The introduction of these new unified arrangements sends a clear signal to all in the MOD and Armed Services that harassment is unacceptable and that anyone suffering should report it without fear and in the knowledge that action will be taken."

It is MOD policy that all military or civilian personnel, regardless of rank, grade, or status, have a right to protection from harassment, and a responsibility to ensure that the working environment is free from harassment and that the dignity of others is respected.

As such, all personnel must: