Armed Forces 'a safe place for women to serve'

THE chief of Britain's armed forces has said he is "confident" they are "a safe place for women to serve".

- POL ALLINGHAM AND DAVE CLARK

The mother of soldier Jaysley Beck, 19, who took her own life in her barracks after she was sexually assaulted by a sergeant, has said young women should not join the Army because the armed forces have not done enough to protect recruits.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, inset, the new Chief of Defence Staff, said what happened to Ms Beck was "criminal and she was let down, and that's why the Army has apologised".

Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said the Army has introduced an independent defence serious crimes unit and a victims and witnesses care unit, it has conducted a sexual harassment survey and changed its policies around "unacceptable behaviours", which are being reviewed by a KC.

"Those things have changed, and that's why I'm confident that the armed forces is a safe place for women to serve," Sir Richard said.