Prisons and Probation: Veterans

(asked on 1st September 2020) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment HM Prisons and Probation Service has made of the effect of the prisons and probation system on armed forces veterans in that system.


Answered by
Lucy Frazer Portrait
Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
This question was answered on 9th September 2020

The Government is committed to making the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran and has committed £5.7m to supporting ex-armed service personnel in the Criminal Justice System.

HMPPS actively tries to identify veterans so that we can be confident that this support reaches those in need. We provide a range of services to support veterans within the Criminal Justice System and work closely with various military charities to do this. For example, the Veterans in Custody Scheme aims to provide a common and collaborative approach to veterans in prisons. It raises awareness to ex-armed service offenders of the support available to them and their families whilst in prison and when preparing for release. The HMPPS Co-Financing Organisation (CFO) has also developed a veteran support map (https://mod.co-financing.org/veteran-support-map/) and this is updated and supported by CFO staff.

To further aid specific rehabilitation for veterans, HMPPS CFO is currently commissioning a veteran-specific Activity Hub located within HMP Holme House, which will operate within a single wing of the prison. The overall aims of the veteran wing include, but are not limited to, providing veteran specific support which will enhance the transition into the community, reducing re-offending and providing a “community” environment where the participants are given the tools to help with tasks to contribute to society and lead a law-abiding life.

It is of vital importance that staff are appropriately trained. Specialist training is available for HMPPS staff, developed by the Probation Institute and military charities, which focuses on the particular needs of veterans. This training will continue once COVID-19 restrictions are eased. Veterans in custody will also benefit from wider improvements to HMPPS staff mental health training, and we have rolled out improved training for staff to raise their awareness of suicide and self-harm issues.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that all veterans, be they on probation or in custody, receive the support they need to engage effectively in their rehabilitation.

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