9% of UK prisoners are former soldiers say NAPO

[Evremonde 10]

Originally Posted by Heyesey

We probably all knew a few kids at school who liked beating up other kids, and who wanted to go in the army because it meant they could fight for a living.

Not my experience, the kids who went on to join the armed forces when I was at school new how to handle themselves and did it very effectively but in no way were they bullies and didn't pick fights for the sake of it, quite the opposite in fact.

Were you bullied at school?

My observation as well Upholder. The services aim to attract, and select, people with a solid character and some resilience to stress.

[TeaFan 10]

Originally Posted by Heyesey

We probably all knew a few kids at school who liked beating up other kids, and who wanted to go in the army because it meant they could fight for a living.My observation as well Upholder. The services aim to attract, and select, people with a solid character and some resilience to stress.

 

Except that what they've been having to do recently has proved a stressor too far for many, with a 30% increase in discharges due to 'nervous breakdown' since the start of the Afghan war http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/19/military-mental-trauma-taliban-afghanistan I worry about what is happening to these people; is the MoD just washing its hands of them? Clearly a significant number are ending up in prison. Doubtless others are sleeping rough, since ex-forces have always made up a proportion of rough sleepers (or "no-good, lazy scumbags" as some will have it).

[matsalleh 10]

Except that what they've been having to do recently has proved a stressor too far for many, with a 30% increase in discharges due to 'nervous breakdown' since the start of the Afghan war http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/19/military-mental-trauma-taliban-afghanistan I worry about what is happening to these people; is the MoD just washing its hands of them? Clearly a significant number are ending up in prison. Doubtless others are sleeping rough, since ex-forces have always made up a proportion of rough sleepers (or "no-good, lazy scumbags" as some will have it).

I am not sure the MoD is washing it's tied hands,but the politicians at top level who sent our forces to these places on the slightest pretext certainly are.I (ex servicemen) sometimes wonder about the need to have such a large attack force,but if the powers that be think it it necessary it must be supported in every way possible and at all times.

91% of prisoners are not ex-servicemen.

[TeaFan 10]

I am not sure the MoD is washing it's tied hands,but the politicians at top level who sent our forces to these places on the slightest pretext certainly are.I (ex servicemen) sometimes wonder about the need to have such a large attack force,but if the powers that be think it it necessary it must be supported in every way possible and at all times.

91% of prisoners are not ex-servicemen.

 

Personally, I don't think it's being critical to accept that 9% of prisoners are ex-services. I think it indicates that offending can be influenced by what happens to you; in this case, severe psychological trauma. In the same way that around 30% of prisoners were in local authority care as children, it indicates that society and government's failures often result in people being in the criminal justice system who would otherwise be leading very normal lives, had they been treated differently.

[Korky 10]

In the same way that around 30% of prisoners were in local authority care as children, it indicates that society and government's failures often result in people being in the criminal justice system who would otherwise be leading very normal lives, had they been treated differently.

Do not overlook the obvious.

 

Children in care tend to come from broken, dysfunctional families. They will mostly be at the bottom of the human pile in terms of their intelligence and potential as a result of being born to thick parents. If that were not the case, why would they be in care at all?

 

We should be careful not to blame society for the lack of achievement of people who are incapable of achievement.

[TeaFan 10]

Do not overlook the obvious.

 

Children in care tend to come from broken, dysfunctional families. They will mostly be at the bottom of the human pile in terms of their intelligence and potential as a result of being born to thick parents. If that were not the case, why would they be in care at all?

 

We should be careful not to blame society for the lack of achievement of people who are incapable of achievement.

 

One of the most ignorant posts I've ever seen on here. a) I doubt you have any demographic information about the children who end up in local authority care, b) you appear to be blaming the victims of sexual/physical/psychological abuse and neglect for what has been done to them as children. Nice.

[Korky 10]

One of the most ignorant posts I've ever seen on here. a) I doubt you have any demographic information about the children who end up in local authority care, b) you appear to be blaming the victims of sexual/physical/psychological abuse and neglect for what has been done to them as children. Nice.

Not at all - don't be all touchy about the subject.

 

I merely suggest that children in care will tend to come from dysfunctional or criminal families, and that such families are less likely to made up of bright, capable people.

Given that bright kids tend to come from bright parents, it is therefore also reasonable to assume that dim parents will, on average, produce dim kids. Forget assumption, we know that to be the case.

 

Now, if that's ignorant, I'd like to know why. It's merely based on a little logic and accepted understanding of evolution and anthrapology.

 

You may choose to differ - for the sake of argument, it would seem.

[moonyroony 10]

There's another possibility that might account for some part of that 9%.

 

We probably all knew a few kids at school who liked beating up other kids, and who wanted to go in the army because it meant they could fight for a living. .

 

 

and the kids that were the victims of our future hero's became police officers,i knew alot of snitching weedy types at school and hated them all, at least 3 of them joined maggies boot boys when we left school and i belive all 3 of em still have no mates..wonder why

[flamingjimmy 10]

Not my experience, the kids who went on to join the armed forces when I was at school new how to handle themselves and did it very effectively but in no way were they bullies and didn't pick fights for the sake of it, quite the opposite in fact.

 

What school were you at? Eton?

 

There were three people from my year at school who i know are now in the army. They were all worthless and i wouldn't be surprised if i heard about them being locked up. Straight up thugs. And, no they didn't bully me before you ask i'm a big guy. Got physical with my some of my friends though at times.

 

Did you really not know any similar thugs?

[AJ sheffield 11]

What school were you at? Eton?

 

There were three people from my year at school who i know are now in the army. They were all worthless and i wouldn't be surprised if i heard about them being locked up. Straight up thugs. And, no they didn't bully me before you ask i'm a big guy. Got physical with my some of my friends though at times.

 

Did you really not know any similar thugs?

 

Well if your a big guy I assume you stepped in to defend them

All the lads I knew that went into the army were good decent lads when they went in and good decent men when they came out.

Some of the pillocks posting on here couldnt even hold down a cleaning job never mind defend the country.

[flamingjimmy 10]

Well if your a big guy I assume you stepped in to defend them

Actually yes, on several occasions.

 

All the lads I knew that went into the army were good decent lads when they went in

 

All the lads i knew that went into the army most certainly weren't.

 

That's not too surprising, we probably know different people. But the point i'm making is that the people Heyesey described most certainly do exist.

[depoix 11]

9% isnt all that bad,considering there must be thousands of ex soldiers out there, when we had conscription all adult males had to serve, thats not really all that long ago since it finished so any prisoner over say 60 would have at one time been a serving soldier,its a load of political spin,and i would suggest that the majority of ex soldiers in prison are there because once in civvy street they were let down by the system,they do their time then walk out into no home and no job,who wants to employ anyone who can put on his c v, sniper, artillery man or tank driver ? where can they use their specialist knowledge ?