6 hours ago
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A leaked internal Ministry of Defence (MoD) report, obtained by the BBC, has highlighted serious failings in a new military command set up to investigate the most severe crimes, including rape and sexual assault.
The Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) was launched after the death of 19-year-old Gunner Jaysley Beck. An inquest later found the Army's mishandling of sexual assault and harassment complaints made by Beck contributed to her taking her own life, and exposed "systemic failings".
However, an internal review has highlighted continued concerns with the unit and warned the military still risks failing victims.
The MoD said the review's findings had been accepted and significant work has been undertaken since.
The DSCC was created in 2022 to investigate serious crimes independently, outside the military's chain of command.
However, the BBC can reveal that an internal review, which was carried out between 21 August 2025 and 12 November 2025 and overseen by a former senior civilian police officer, concluded that if the DSCC was subjected to scrutiny similar to civilian police forces there would be "a significant risk of (it) being graded as inadequate".
In a statement, the MoD said the review was commissioned "to provide honest challenge, identify areas of improvement and to help ensure the highest standards for victims and witnesses".
It added that following the findings, the DSCC had carried out significant work "including further investment in victim and witness support, strengthening governance and safeguarding arrangements and accrediting investigators to nationally recognised policing standards".
The DSCC was committed to transparency, continuous improvement and ensuring victims receive the support and service they deserve, the statement continued.
