Context

While most ex-service personnel manage to adapt well to ‘civilian life’, a small number become involved in the criminal justice system. We have two sources of data for the number of ex-service people caught up in the criminal justice system:

• 3.6 per cent of individuals in custody, for whom identification data were available for June 2024, had previously served in the Armed Forces (Ministry of Justice, 2024).
• analysis of the 2021 Census revealed that 4.9 per cent of incarcerated individuals identified as ex-service personnel (Office for Veterans’ Affairs, 2023).

Identification

Identifying ex-service personnel within the criminal justice system can be complex due to a range of personal and institutional obstacles. Many ex-service personnel are reluctant to disclose their Armed Forces background because of feelings of pride, stigma, or concerns that criminal justice staff may not fully understand their specific challenges. For many there is a military cultural norm which encourages self-reliance and discourages asking for help.

Concerns over mental health stigma persist beyond service, with research showing that personnel frequently avoid seeking help during active duty due to fears about the impact on their careers. Ex-service personnel also report feelings of shame and embarrassment linked to asking for help which can be perceived as a sign of weakness. The result is that many individuals delay accessing support until reaching crisis points such as suicidal ideation.

The current chronic probation under-staffing crisis, combined with variability in how information about ex-service status is recorded and communicated within probation services, results in barriers to identification. While some areas have introduced formal processes to flag ex-service status on case management systems, this practice is not yet fully embedded everywhere.

Another issue is that identification of ex-service personnel requires an understanding of the term ‘veteran’ and who qualifies to use the term. Many associate ‘veteran’ with older generations or lengthy service which means those who are younger and/or with shorter service lengths often do not identify with this term. This lack of self-identification can affect whether they seek or accept support.

Support

Ex-service personnel have diverse experiences, with some receiving limited assistance and others reporting effective signposting by practitioners to organisations dedicated to supporting ex-service personnel. Understanding barriers to identification and support enables timely referral to ex-service personnel-specific services, which can significantly improve engagement and rehabilitation outcomes by addressing barriers such as stigma and reluctance to seek help.

Even when someone has been identified as being ex-service and wishes to access support, they often report that available support was poorly timed, with help only becoming accessible post-custody. Many participants noted that while lists of organisations that could provide support were provided, these were often intended for use after release, leaving needs unmet during critical periods of custody. Some individuals described trying repeatedly to access support from probation services but were met with delays, perceived indifference, or a lack of follow-up.

Recommendations

The report concludes that probation services are particularly well-placed to recognise and address the needs of ex-service personnel in contact with the criminal justice system. It makes four recommendations to enhance identification:

1. Clearly communicate the purpose and importance of asking about Armed Forces service status at the point of enquiry.
2. Standardise the identification question to clearly define eligibility criteria and clarify the terms ‘ex-service personnel’ and ‘veteran’. Consistently ask and record the answer to the question, “Have you served in the Armed Forces or reserves for one day or more?”
3. Integrate multiple opportunities for identification in an individual’s journey engaging with probation to provide opportunities ex-service personnel to disclose their Armed Forces’ service.
4. Explore options for sharing identification data across different IT systems to enable smoother information exchange between agencies within the criminal justice system.

The report also sets out five recommendations to overcome barriers to support for this client group:

1. Enhance communication strategies targeted at ex-service personnel and their families regarding eligibility for support services, including the creation of specialised marketing
   materials and awareness campaigns. Develop accessible visual and written information materials to be made available at key touchpoints in individuals’ engagement with probation.
2. Deliver comprehensive ‘veteran-informed’ training for all professionals working with this group, covering eligibility criteria, identification indicators, specific support needs, and available assistance options.
3. Continue to strengthen the representation of ex-service personnel across the criminal justice system by appointing Armed Forces champions or designated points of contact (SPOCs).
4. Secure longer-term commissioning arrangements to promote sustained continuity in service provision for ex-service personnel.
5. Enhance the range of ‘veteran-informed’ mental health pathways tailored to diverse needs. Ensure that through-the-gate support recognises the full spectrum of ex-service personnel’s needs, including their Armed Forces background, mental health, disabilities, and offending history.