More ex-servicemen in prison than there are troops in Afghanistan

[Gromit]

The proportion of veterans in the prison population has more than doubled in six years, according to a report published today highlighting the hidden cost of recent military action.

About 12,000 veterans are on probation or parole, representing 6 per cent of the total, while 8,500 are in prison, representing 8.5 per cent of the jail population, according to the report by the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo).

The figures suggest that more ex-servicemen and women are in the criminal justice system of England and Wales than there are troops serving in Afghanistan.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6848238.ece

Your comments please

[jake-the-peg]

Stand up and salute our heroes - your honour

[LoftyLottie]

Just been listening to Jeremy Vine on the radio talking about this and also whether ex servicemen should be treated more leniently when they commit a crime because of the traumas they have experienced. All very interesting, but no real comments from me, except that I think it would be ludicrous to excuse them for their crimes.

[LoftyLottie]

LOL Jake. I am following that thread, but daren't comment!!!

[daffy654]

Some ex-servicemen have trouble adjusting to 'life on the outside'. I know my brother did after 17 years in the RAF.
They should not be treated more leniently if caught committing crimes,but maybe whichever service they are leaving should offer more support to resettle back into civilian life...of course that would mean more government funding and we all know that is not going to be forthcoming!

[jake-the-peg]

An awful lot go into the forces because they don't have better options.

Some come out with training and a career but many come out and find that they have the same issues that they had when they went in.

The solution is giving kids a better education and opportunities so they don't just drift into the Forces.

Those who advocate a return to National Service should take note of this.

[LoftyLottie]

100% agree with you Jake. That's why I am staying clear of the other thread - it just makes my blood boil how blinkered some people are and how they can't consider other people's opinions.

[daffy654]

My brother trained as an electronic engineer in the RAF but still couldn't find work when he left,he spent years drifting around Blackpool working on the machines in the arcades for a pathetic wage. He eventually became so depressed that he tried to commit suicide.He is now a hopeless alcoholic and has OCD.

[LoftyLottie]

That's so sad Daffy.

[anotheoldgit]

Once again Gromit I notice you are not making any comment.

But since one obviously expects me to comment, judging by the particular bate that they have deemed to put on their hooks. But don't celebrate your catch, you haven't got me into the keep net yet.

" maybe whichever service they are leaving should offer more support to resettle back into civilian life...of course that would mean more government funding and we all know that is not going to be forthcoming! "

Agree, If the Government spent as much money on rehabilitating service personnel when they finish their service in the Armed Forces, as they do on prison inmates both while they are in prison and when they leave, perhaps this would help to reduce the amount of these ex servicemen and women going into prison.

[zzxxee]

because as soon as you leave there are little services to help you ajust to civillian life, its hard from being a trained fighter one min and haveing to deal with rules and regulations of civillian life its a big ajustment to make and little provisions are there you are just left to get on with it

[daffy654]

Dancairo...you went from one service into another,most ex-servicemen don't.

[anotheoldgit]

Let's get a little perspective to these figures:

About 12,000 veterans are on probation or parole, representing 6 per cent of the total, while 8,500 are in prison, representing 8.5 per cent of the jail population.

Ex Service Men 8.5% of the jail population. (Post action trauma?)

Black or Black British 15% of the jail population. (What is their excuse)?

Break down of of prison population by ethnicity (2007)

Gender Race Percent
Male (75,451) White 73%
Mixed 3%
Asian or Asian British 7%
Black or Black British 15%
Chinese or other ethnic group 1%

Women (4,283) White 70%
Mixed 4%
Asian or Asian British 3%
Black or Black British 19%
Chinese or other ethnic group 3%

[jake-the-peg]

Interesting that you sould immediately decide to switch this to race AOG

You didn't decide to do split it up by class or by education or gender or age any one of a dozen different alternatives.

You must have been very disappointed when 73% turned up as white - you're always telling us that we're swimming in a sea of muslim immigration yet so few are in prison.

Either a) you were wrong or b) Muslims are more law abiding or c) both!

[zzxxee]

now now guys lets stick to the question being asked x

[daffy654]

I think a lot of servicemen are disillusioned with life in uniform and are leaving the armed forces to get away from the strict way of life they have been immersed in for many years. In my brother's case he had become fed up with waiting for promotion and from seeing all the graduates getting the positions and postings he thought he had worked damned hard to get for himself. He had joined the RAF straight from school so knew no other life apart from that,he was institutionalised.

[anotheoldgit]

You didn't decide to do split it up by class or by education or gender or age any one of a dozen different alternatives.
????????????????????????????????????????????
The reason being, that the statics didn't show a breakdown according to class, education, or age, but it did (if you were not wearing your rose tinted specs) show gender/ Women.
______________________________________________________________________________

You must have been very disappointed when 73% turned up as white - you're always telling us that we're swimming in a sea of muslim immigration yet so few are in prison.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Not disappointed in the least,
Since this country (at the moment) is predominately White it is obviously that there would be a higherr percentage of Whites.

Regarding Muslims being more law abiding, it does not give a figure, only Asians and Whites, there being many White Muslims in Britain so who knows?

The total population of this country is 61 million, and the total number of Muslims in Great Britain, was 2,4 million in 2008, and continuing to grow.

2004: 1,870,000

2005: 2,017,000

2006: 2,142,000

2007: 2,327,000

2008: 2,422,000

Definitely swimming in the wrong direction.

[Gromit]

AOG

You forgot to mention that your figures are merely estimates by the Labour Force Survey of around 53,000 homes. The last accurate figure was the 2001 census.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5621482.ece

[bentaxle]

was there a blig rise in the jail population after the korean war there was 4360 casualties in that mostly national service I doubt it