The Commanding Officer of HMS Somerset has been permanently removed from command of the Type 23 frigate, the Royal Navy has confirmed.

The following statement was issued by the Ministry of Defence this morning (Thursday December 16):

“The Royal Navy can confirm that, following an equal opportunities investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment, the decision has been made to remove Cdr David Axon permanently from command of HMS Somerset.

“Cdr Axon has duly been informed that he will be appointed to a non-command appointment ashore, with immediate effect.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics of this case, and to do so would be to ignore the rights to privacy and confidentiality of all those concerned.

“However, this reappointment decision has been taken on the basis that Cdr Axon’s leadership and management style have been found to have fallen significantly short of the exemplary standards the Royal Navy requires of its commanding officers, with the result that the indispensable bond of trust and respect between a Commanding Officer and the ship’s company had been irrevocably damaged in this instance.

“It is nevertheless important to emphasise that, while administrative action has been taken to remove Cdr Axon from command, the investigation into his conduct has not identified any evidence of mutinous behaviour, insubordination, disobedience or any other breaches of Service law among the ship’s company of HMS Somerset.

“The Royal Navy demands the highest standards of behaviour and skills of those entrusted to be commanding officers of its warships, and the decision to remove Cdr Axon from Command has been taken with that in mind, and only after the most careful consideration.”