Kerry-Ann Knight, a former Corporal in the British Army, has received a substantial financial settlement and an apology from the Ministry of Defence following allegations of racist and sexist abuse during her service. Ms Knight, who had been an instructor at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate and featured in recruitment campaigns, claimed she was subjected to repeated racial and sexist harassment by colleagues.
Nature of the alleged abuse
The abuse Ms Knight reportedly experienced was severe and prolonged:
Colleagues directed slavery-related slurs towards her, including references to "lynching" and "tarring and feathering"
Hitler was praised by some colleagues
Offensive racial stereotypes were used, such as shouting "watermelon" when she entered a room
She faced sexist abuse, including being shown inappropriate images at work events
Ms Knight regularly raised complaints about this treatment to her superiors, but claims no action was taken.
Legal proceedings and settlement
The case was taken to an employment tribunal with support from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Before a final judgment was made, the parties reached a settlement. Key points of the resolution include:
A substantial financial settlement (amount undisclosed)
A formal apology from the Ministry of Defence
No admission of liability by the British Army
Army's response and apology
Major General SL Humphris MBE, on behalf of the British Army, issued an apology to Kerry-Ann Knight, stating:
"The Army accepts that you had to work in an unacceptable organisational environment where you experienced racist and sexist harassment. There was a failure within the Army in not responding properly to that environment or your complaints about it."
Wider implications and EHRC involvement
This case has broader implications for the British Army and other public services:
The EHRC has announced that tackling discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in the armed forces is a strategic priority for 2024-25.
The programme will also focus on police and fire services, aiming to support workplace changes through guidance, training, and enforcement action.
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chairwoman of the EHRC, emphasised that the British Army, as a major UK employer and public authority, should be a standard-bearer in protecting employees from discrimination.
Additional considerations
Similar cases of discrimination within the British Army have been reported:
Pile-Gray v Ministry of Defence - In December 2023, the claimant, a Black Lance Sergeant, won claims of race discrimination, victimisation, and racial harassment against the Ministry of Defence.
In July 2023, Ebrima Bayo, a former soldier, successfully brought a claim against the Ministry of Defence for religious discrimination based on his Muslim beliefs.
These cases highlight ongoing issues within the British Army regarding discrimination and the need for systemic changes to address these problems.
Further reading
This article was generated using HR Advisor, an AI tool designed to assist HR professionals with employment law. If you find the content helpful, please explore HR Advisor and sign up for a free trial to see how it can benefit your HR practices.
