Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton’s defence committee investigation revealed earlier this year that nearly six out of 10 currently serving women had experienced behaviour such as bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Servicewomen were more than 10 times as likely than servicemen to have been sexually harassed in the last 12 months.

       The Government has now accepted a raft of recommendations from the report but not the call for rape cases to be heard outside the military system. MPs will have the opportunity to debate the report’s findings this Thursday.

       Ms Atherton, who served in the intelligence corps, said: “Put simply, all military rape cases should be heard in civilian courts, not military courts. Military women should have the same access to justice as civilians.”

       She is convinced that the present court martial arrangements are failing to deliver justice.

       Strong support has come from Tobias Ellwood, a former officer in the Royal Green Jackets who now chairs Westminster’s defence committee.

       He said: “It’s not just the recommendation of this powerful report that calls for military rape cases to be heard in civilian rather than military courts but also the review of Justice Lyons who was asked by the MOD to look at the very same issue. “Military courts have limited experience in judging such serious offences far better for them to be considered in civilian courts.”

       The Government says it is “determined” to ensure there is female representation on court marital boards looking at sexual offending but has rejected the call for rape cases to be heard before civilian courts.

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