Military abuse & harassment claims

Military mistreatment can cover a range of harmful or unacceptable behaviour during service. This may include bullying, harassment, discrimination, abuse, sexual harassment, assault, intimidation or abuse of power.  

Not every instance of unacceptable behaviour will result in a compensation claim. We’ll look at what happened, the harm you suffered and whether there may be a legal basis for holding the MOD responsible. 

You may be able to make a military bullying claim if bullying in the military caused you a recognised physical or psychological injury and there are grounds for holding the MOD legally responsible.  

For example, a claim may arise where those responsible knew, or should reasonably have known, about ongoing bullying but failed to take appropriate action to protect you.  

Bullying can take different forms. It may involve repeated intimidation, humiliation, threatening behaviour, deliberate isolation, misuse of authority or other behaviour that causes harm.  

Military environments have their own structures, pressures and expectations. Our solicitors will consider the circumstances in which the behaviour happened rather than expecting you to determine for yourself whether it legally amounts to bullying. 

Different legal routes may be available if you have experienced discrimination in the military. The right route will depend on what happened, why you believe you were treated unfairly and the harm or financial loss you suffered.  

Discrimination can include being treated unfairly because of characteristics such as race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or other characteristics protected by law.  

These cases can involve different and sometimes short time limits. Speak to a specialist military discrimination lawyer as soon as possible so you can understand the options available to you.  

Military discrimination in Service can include unfair treatment linked to a protected characteristic, discriminatory policies or practices, harassment and victimisation. 

You may have legal options if you experienced unlawful discrimination because of your sex or gender reassignment during military service. This could involve decisions affecting your treatment, opportunities or career, as well as harassment or other discriminatory behaviour. The appropriate legal route will depend on the circumstances.  

You may have a claim if you experienced sexual harassment in the military and suffered harm as a result. This can include unwanted sexual behaviour, comments or conduct.  

We understand that discussing sexual harassment can be difficult. You can speak to us confidentially and we’ll explain your options without expecting you to know what type of legal claim you may have.

If you experienced sexual assault during your military service, there may be different routes for seeking compensation or taking action. The appropriate route can depend on when and where the assault happened, who was responsible and the circumstances surrounding it.  

A compensation claim may be possible in some cases. Other routes may also be relevant, including reporting a criminal offence or applying to an appropriate compensation scheme. We can explain which options may apply to your circumstances. 

The fact that military abuse happened many years ago doesn’t necessarily mean you should rule out seeking legal advice. Claims are subject to time limits, but the rules can depend on the type of claim and its circumstances. In some personal injury cases, a court has discretion to allow a claim to proceed after the usual limitation period.  

Historic claims can become harder to investigate as time passes, so it is important to get specialist advice as soon as you feel able.  

Yes. Different time limits can apply depending on the type of legal action you are considering.  

For personal injury claims in England and Wales, the usual time limit is generally three years from the date of injury or the date you first had the required knowledge about your injury and its cause. There are exceptions, and a court may have discretion to allow some claims to proceed outside the usual period.  

Other types of claim, including some discrimination and human rights claims, can have significantly shorter deadlines. Claims connected with overseas military operations may also be subject to additional limitation rules.  

Speak to us as soon as possible and we can explain which deadline may apply to your circumstances.  

Not necessarily. A Service Complaint and a compensation claim are different processes, although the circumstances may overlap.  

Serving and former members of the Armed Forces can use the Service Complaints process for certain grievances connected with service, including bullying, harassment and discrimination. Depending on the type of case, there may also be circumstances where the Service Complaint process is relevant to another legal route.  

Crucially, you shouldn’t assume that making a Service Complaint extends the deadline for bringing a claim. Get legal advice promptly if you are considering both.  

The Armed Forces Commissioner is an independent office that came into effect on 1 April 2026. Its role includes functions connected with the Service Complaints system.  

This is separate from bringing a civil compensation claim. We can explain the difference between the available processes and which may be relevant to your circumstances.  

Not reporting what happened at the time doesn’t automatically prevent you from seeking legal advice or bringing a claim.  

There can be many reasons why someone doesn’t report mistreatment during military service. You may have been worried about your career, concerned about the reaction of colleagues or senior personnel, or simply not felt able to speak about what happened.  

We’ll consider the evidence that is available now and advise you about your options.  

Yes, former service personnel may still be able to bring a claim. Leaving the Army, Royal Navy or RAF doesn’t in itself prevent you from seeking compensation for harm suffered during service.  

Time limits will still apply, so contact us as soon as possible if you are considering a claim.  

Potentially. The fact that bullying, harassment, discrimination or abuse happened while you were deployed or stationed overseas doesn’t automatically prevent a claim.  

However, additional legal rules and time limits can apply to claims connected with overseas military operations. Specialist advice is particularly important in these cases.  

Military mistreatment can cause serious psychological injuries as well as physical harm. If bullying, harassment, discrimination or abuse caused or worsened a recognised psychological condition, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression, we can consider this as part of your claim. Medical evidence will usually be important in establishing the nature of your injury and its effect on your life.  

The effect on your career can be an important part of a compensation claim where the legal requirements for a claim are met.  

If an injury caused by mistreatment meant you could no longer serve, affected promotion or left you unable to pursue the career you had planned, we can investigate the resulting financial loss as part of assessing your claim. 

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, or AFCS, is separate from a civil claim against the MOD. It provides compensation for injury, illness or death caused by service on or after 6 April 2005 and doesn’t require you to prove negligence in the same way as a civil claim.  

Depending on your circumstances, more than one route may need to be considered. Payments under another compensation scheme can also affect the compensation recovered elsewhere, so we’ll explain how the options fit together.  

It’s understandable to worry about the effect speaking out could have, particularly if you are still serving.  We’ll discuss those concerns with you and explain your options confidentially. The position will depend on the type of claim and your individual circumstances, so we will not make assumptions about the effect legal action could have on your service. 

The evidence needed will depend on what happened. It may include:  

• Medical and military medical records  
• Service records  
• Emails, messages or other written communications  
• Service Complaint documents  
• Records of incidents or reports you made  
• Statements from people who witnessed what happened  
• Evidence showing the effect on your career or earnings  

Don’t worry if you don’t have all of this. Our specialists can explain what evidence is likely to matter and help gather the information needed to investigate your claim. 

You can start by speaking to one of our specialist solicitors. You don’t need to know which law applies or whether you definitely have a claim.  

We’ll listen to what happened, consider the harm you suffered and explain the options available to you. If we can help with a compensation claim, we’ll tell you what happens next.