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

[jno]

Historically speaking, this is normal. Throughout the middle ages, whenever a war came to an end, there was always the problem of ex-soldiers - trained killers - roaming the countryside looking for work/easy pickings. In those days you didn't have a standing army; a soldier might be a peasant sent by the lord from his field, or a passer-by caught by a press gang. It never occurred to anyone to make plans for what would happen when the fighting was over; the assumption was probably that they'd all be dead.

You'd think the creation of a standing army, with war as a career, would involve some sort of long-term planning for life in civvy street. Indeed, many can learn a trade in the army. But if there's a recession on in the outside world, they'll be just as likely to wind up unemployed as anyone else.

[Mr Veritas]

Sadly,twas ever thus.
When I was demobbed in 1950,having served all through WW2,there were many many jobless,homeless ex servicemen.
The numbers were mot as high as now,but were probably as many in proportion to the numbers of ex servicemen.
Governments(of whatever century) are embarassed by wounded,maimed and able bodied servicemen/women.
It shows them just what the effects of (usually) unecessary wars are.
So if you join up now,don't expect to be looked after when you leave the forces,especially iof you are wounded,physically or mentally.
Soldiers,Sailors and Air Force etc,are just there to be used up and discarded.

[sp1814]

AOG

Here's one for you...

What percentage of the UK population are ex-servicemen, and is that the same percentage as those in prison.

I was pleased to see you figures about black prisons. What do you infer from the figures Gromit's post?

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

Where you on the "wacky backy" when you typed your post, just read it through?

What percentage of the UK population are ex-servicemen, and is that the same percentage as those in prison.

If it were then they would all be in prison.

I was pleased to see you figures about black prisons. What do you infer from the figures Gromit's post?

I found this very hard to read, but did you mean "I was pleased to see your figures regarding the number of blacks in prison"?

If so, why were you pleased?

What did I infer from the figures of Gromit's post? If you meant the number of Muslims in this country? I did not infer anything, they were exactly the same as mine.

[sp1814]

My last post was barely readable because I typed it on my iPhone without bothering to check the content before posting.

My point is this - I was pleased that you brought up the percenage of the total prison population who are black and compared it with the percentage of the UK population who are black, because that now gives you an opportunity to compare the figures for ex-servicemen.

According to the published figures, 8.5% of the prison population are ex-servicemen.

So what percentage of the UK population are ex-servicemen? My guess is that it's considerably less than 8.5%.

You've said before that poor education, economic prospects, housing etc etc are no excuse for the over-representation of blacks in jail...

So what do the figures regarding ex-servicemen suggest to you?

Do the figures suggest that they are inherently more likely to be bad 'uns?

If you don't answer, I will fully understand and never bring this up again, because I think we can both see the corner you've painted yourself into, and I like to be magnamous in victory.