Four female recruits allege sexual abuse and rape at Army Foundation College

Four British female recruits told the BBC they were sexually abused during training at the Army Foundation College; one said she was raped. The army called the reports deeply shocking. The alleged abuse occurred at Harrogate, the army’s only training site for recruits under 18. The women were minors then, reporting a culture of misogyny and sexual violence; one described an alleged gang rape. Prior allegations exist: 176 reports of sexual misconduct linked to the college from 2018 to June 2025; a 2025 ministry survey found 67% of servicewomen had experienced such misconduct.