Any serving or former serving members of the UK armed forces, in regular or reserve service, can make a complaint within 3 months of the incident occurring if they feel they have been wronged in any matter relating to their service including bullying, harassment, victimisation, discrimination and biased or improper behaviour.

If they want to bring a claim in the employment tribunal, they must make (and not withdraw or fail to appeal) a service complaint.

The service complaints scheme is not a scheme that is designed to determine criminal complaints – complaints that are criminal in nature (for example harassment, including sexual harassment) are a police matter but complaints involving such matters should still be made as a Service Complaint but then stayed, pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.

Further service complaint support and advice is available to BMA members. Log in to access further guidance or become a BMA member.