Nacro, in partnership with the University of Northampton (UON) produced research into the barriers to identification and uptake of support for ex-service personnel and their families in the criminal justice systems (CJS) of England, Wales, and Scotland, published in March 2024. This research was commissioned by Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT).This research aims to increase knowledge in this area to enable policy makers and service deliverers to better identify and meet the needs of this group, with the intention of reducing the likelihood of ex-service personnel entering the CJS or reoffending.
Recommendations to improve identification of ex-service personnel who come into contact with the CJS
- Ensure rationale for asking about ex-service status is communicated when question is asked.
- Expand the identification mechanisms in policing beyond police custody: this includes increasing staff awareness regarding ex-service personnel, and the signs to look out for whilst in the community. This would allow police offers to have more opportunities to refer ex-service personnel into appropriate services.
- Justice social work (JSW) in Scotland should embed the question, “Have you served in the Armed Forces or reserves for a day or more” in their list of questions asked during induction and writing JSW reports. Both justice social work and probation should consistently ask the question and record and share this information appropriately.
- Further research into the perceptions of ex-service personnel amongst the judiciary and legal professionals is recommended.
- Consider if/how identification status could be shared between different IT systems and therefore shared more easily between different agencies working within the CJS.
- Standardise the identification question to clearly convey broad eligibility and the meaning of ‘ex-service personnel’ and/or ‘veteran’. Ex-service personnel organisations can help promote the expanded, inclusive meaning of the term ‘veteran’.
- Build multiple opportunities for ex-service personnel to share their service status into each part of the criminal justice pathway.
Recommendations to address or mitigate barriers to support experienced by ex-service personnel in the CJS and their families
- Establish automated processes of referral following identification in police custody.
- Develop engagement strategies to maintain contact with ex-service personnel who may be at risk of offending or require additional support following transition from the Armed Forces into community.
- Improve communications to ex-service personnel and their families regarding eligibility to access support, including development of specialist marketing materials and advertising campaigns.
- Develop varied ‘veteran-informed’ provisions of mental health support pathways that address a range of needs. In Wales and Scotland this could be achieved by developing joined-up pathways similar to Op NOVA and Op COURAGE.
- Provide ‘veteran-informed’ training to all staff who work with ex-service personnel: including awareness of who is eligible to access support; indicators that can help identify ex-service personnel; the additional support needs they may have, and the additional support options available for them.
- Continue work already underway to ensure representation of ex-service personnel in the different parts of the justice system, by
assigning Armed Forces champions/SPOCs. - Expand and ringfence resources available for the (veterans-in-custody support officer) ViCSO role. Make ViCSO a full-time, paid position in prisons, particularly those with significant numbers of identified ex-service personnel.
- Establish longer-term commissioning of services to improve continuity of service provision.
- Increase face-to-face engagement with and services for ex-service personnel in prison to break down barriers and develop trust.
- Develop accessible visual/written materials available at touchpoints across the CJS.
- Support for ex-service personnel as they are released from prison should account for their service history, mental health needs, disabilities, and offending history.
- Develop a database for stakeholders with information about third sector and other organisations that provide services to ex-service personnel in the justice system.
