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Revealed: the hidden army in UK prisons
More veterans in justice system than soldiers serving in Afghanistan - study
* Alan Travis, home affairs editor
* guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 September 2009 20.52 BST
The number of former servicemen in prison or on probation or parole is now more than double the total British deployment in Afghanistan, according to a new survey. An estimated 20,000 veterans are in the criminal justice system, with 8,500 behind bars, almost one in 10 of the prison population.
The proportion of those in prison who are veterans has risen by more than 30% in the last five years.
The study by the probation officers' union Napo uncovers the hidden cost of recent conflicts. The snapshot survey of 90 probation case histories of convicted veterans shows a majority with chronic alcohol or drug problems, and nearly half suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or depression as a result of their wartime experiences on active service.
Those involved had served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. They are most likely to have been convicted of a violent offence, particularly domestic violence.
The study provides the strongest evidence yet of a direct link between the mental health of those returning from combat zones, chronic alcohol and drug abuse and domestic violence.
In many cases the symptoms of depression or stress did not become apparent for many years and included persistent flashbacks and nightmares.
Professor Tim Robbins, consultant clinical psychologist and former head of traumatic stress services at St George's hospital, London, said: "If we are asking people to do appalling things, to take part in regular firefights and hand-to-hand combat, you get to the stage where it de-sensitises them to violence. It is not just these specific things, but also [for soldiers] there is the constant rising and falling of the level of tension. In combat, they are constantly on edge and after a while they become constantly on edge."
Harry Fletcher, Napo's assistant general secretary, said the high numbers of former soldiers in prison was unacceptable: "There is overwhelming evidence that support is not available of sufficient calibre when soldiers leave the service. The preponderance of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression is also alarming."
Probation staff in 62 offices across England and Wales say the vast majority of former soldiers referred by the courts for criminal justice supervision did not receive adequate support or counselling on leaving the armed forces.
Napo also says their military experience and background is not being routinely identified when they are arrested or convicted in the courts. It wants a specific duty to be placed on criminal justice agencies to refer service personnel for appropriate help and counselling.
Probation officers say the military also urgently needs to provide programmes to tackle chronic alcohol abuse and domestic violence committed by those in their ranks and on discharge.
The probation union's estimate of 20,000 veterans in the criminal justice system breaks down into 12,000 veterans on probation or parole, and a further 8,500 in custody. These figures represent 8.5% of the total UK prison population, and 6% of all those on probation or parole.
The survey on those on probation and parole was carried out this summer and builds on a prison estimate made last year. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence have so far taken more than a year to complete a basic survey of the number of veterans in prison. At one point the exercise was hindered by claims it contravened the Data Protection Act.
The shadow justice secretary, Dominic Grieve, said it was a disgrace that so many who served their country were in jail.
"No one is above the law, but this government has failed to provide proper support to our troops on return home," he said. "The public will be shocked to find so many soldiers in jail when the government has released thousands of criminals early because of lack of cells."
A Ministry of Justice spokesman insisted they took their duty of care for all offenders very seriously, irrespective of background. "Our first priority is protecting the public. By providing offenders with support and information which will aid their resettlement in the community we reduce the risk they will reoffend."
The spokesman said people entering the criminal justice system were from a range of backgrounds. A variety of issues had contributed to their offending behaviour, which staff worked to address.
The Ministry of Defence acknowledged that a "small minority" of ex-service personnel can face serious difficulties. A spokesperson said: "We provide a wide range of support, before, during and after leaving the services, including the MoD's Prison-in-Reach initiative," which aims to raise awareness among ex-service offenders and their families about the help available to them.
* guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
Added: Sep 24 2009 In: middle_east
Recorded on: Sep 24 2009By: allyssa
- Tags:
- Afghanistan,
- soldiers,
- British army,
- criminals
- Views: 2538 |
- Votes: 1 |
- Recommendations: 0 |
- Comments: 35
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Comments - sort by newest to oldest
very good the sytem works against themselves....
bwa hahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah you brits are funny.
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "vietnam666" (B)
bwa hahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah you brits are funny.
TWAT.
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "anglosaxonwarlord" (R)
I think all this tells us is: A lot of the troops, at present fighting in Afghanistan, are the type of people (Low intelligence, reckless, prone to violence, etc.) who would end up in prison, anyway.
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "allyssa" (R)
I dont know if they did a poll for American Soldiers who come back and commit crimes. I imagine it would be similar though.
War. They teach these people to act like animals then release they back into populations and they cant re-ajust. Unfortunately the innocent ones always pay.
A good example why we should NEVER create phoney wars. The costs can not even be determined for many many years after.
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "Priority" (B)
I think you are right. Isnt it nice we lowered standards even more in America for service members?
What a freaking mess.
You would think the Pentagon was at war with America. Seems just about everything they do is counterproductive and costs lives and trust and unbelievable amounts of tax payer dollars.
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "Priority" (B)
they should send them back to get killed rather than endanger civilians back in the UK
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "unprotected" (R)
most soldiers in the uk/american army are the scum of the earth, they were sent to the army to get them out of street crime violent drug life
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "unprotected" (R)
What would you know about british soldiers.
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "anglosaxonwarlord" (R)
War. They teach these people to act like animals then release they back into populations and they cant re-ajust. Unfortunately the innocent ones always pay.
A good example why we should NEVER create phoney wars. The costs can not even be determined for many many years after.
agree...
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "vietnam666" (B)
there's no doubt about it...they are like rats, they are a plague.
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "vietnam666" (B)
very good solution...there's no way back to civilization for them.
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "vietnam666" (B)
bwa hahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah you brits are funny.
TWAT.
you need a mirror, look to yourself!!!!twat!
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "vietnam666" (B)
bwa hahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah you brits are funny.
TWAT.
yo mama's
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "akbarkhan" (R)
bwa hahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahah you brits are funny.
TWAT.
you need a mirror, look to yourself!!!!twat!
I do when i shave every day look at my blue eyes and blond hair and think of my long history and how i can trace my family back many hundreds of years .Not just from when your imigrant family moved from there mud hut in pakistan yeh baby i love it .
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "anglosaxonwarlord" (R)
My cousin was born on the same day I was and he is heading over to Afghanistan next year. He's going to be a machine gunner on a Humvee over there, so I am concerned for his safety. But what concerns me the most is how it might effect him psychologically. He's going to be in a place where people are going to be trying to take his life, that takes a toll on anyone's psyche.
Posted Sep-24-2009 by "lilhurt38" (R)