Record numbers of ex-soldiers in UK jails as combat trauma blamed

[Anarcho-Socialist]

Source: Manchester Guardian (Observer)

At least 8,500 former service personnel are in custody - nearly a tenth of the UK prison population.

# Jamie Doward
# The Observer,
# Sunday August 31 2008

The number of soldiers who end up in prison for violent offences has increased dramatically in the past four years, according to a report that has raised concerns about the mental health of military personnel returning from war zones. Compiled by probation officers, the report estimates that at least 8,500 former soldiers are in custody - 9 per cent of the UK prison population and nearly double the estimate of a previous study by the Home Office in 2004, which put the figure at 5 per cent.

But even the estimate by Napo, the probation trade union, may be on the low side. In a sign that the Ministry of Defence is increasingly aware of the problem, it recently carried out its own assessment in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice and ex-services charities. A pilot study at Dartmoor prison concluded that almost 17 per cent of inmates had been members of the armed forces.

'It is of real concern that thousands of soldiers are in prison and many more are on parole or community service orders,' said Harry Fletcher of Napo. 'In virtually every incidence the former soldier served in either the Gulf or Afghanistan, became involved in excess alcohol or drug-taking, and was subsequently convicted of an offence of violence.'

The Napo report was compiled from more than 70 case studies. Whatever the true figure, it is apparent that soldiers comprise by far the largest occupational group in the prison system. 'It is clearly worrying that a significant proportion of people in the penal system are ex-servicemen and it doesn't say much for the support given to those leaving the military,' said Andrew Neilson of the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/aug/31/military.prisonsandprobation

[ensho]

1. wonder what the count is here. many are on the streets

in tents, campers, trailors, boats, trucks, cars etc.

many are in mental hosps.

many are making family life hell.

there is little to no money available to help the vets.

[pattmarty]

2. Well, they just better think of "importing" more "negroes"........

....to supplement their prison population. Hey, look at the USA, because of our "non-white" population we don't have to populate our privatized prison system with veterans.:sarcasm:

[L0oniX]

3. No doubt the same thing will be or is happening here.

No surprise that our country would rather fight than talk, with all the vets we have living with us now and McLame is one of them.

[libodem]

4. Sad beyond belief

used and discarded like yesterday's fish wrap. They've been turned into criminals because of what they have been through and then dumped. Makes me wonder about what has happened to actual Iraqis whom we have abused and the men discharged after being held at Gitmo. We have ruined a lot of mental health around the world.

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. Train young people in violence and killing abroad, then bring them home

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.
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AND THEY ARE STILL VIOLENT AND MURDEROUS

Geee .

Why are we so surprised . . . ?

War is a human sickness IMO

Ants are more "civilized" than us "humans"

(sigh)