We’re delighted to welcome our second guest blogger to the pages of Signal Business Consulting, to talk about Veterans who find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Philpott OBE RM (Retired)
I joined the Royal Marines in November 1963 as a Junior Marine and was subsequently awarded a General List Commission in September 1965. I served in numerous operational, training and staff appointments in the UK, mainland Europe, at sea and the Far East.
In 1982 I graduated from the Royal Navy Staff College, Greenwich. During 1988 – 90 I was privileged to command Commando Training Wing being responsible for Royal Marine recruit training. I was made an OBE in the 1990 New Years Honour List. In 1991 I was appointed Second in Command of the Royal Marines Logistics Regiment and in 1993 attended the NATO Defence College in Rome, subsequently serving on the staff of CINC South in Naples Italy.
I retired from the Corps in August 1997 and established C-FAR, a charitable training company rehabilitating young adult prolific male offenders in the South West of England.
Since then, two colleagues and I have established a not for profit training company – Life Change UK – www.lifechangeuk.com.
I have been working to develop and promote an alternative to custody and probation for military veteran offenders. The model brings together a blend of the experience and good work already delivered by the three partners and the programme previously provided by C-FAR.
My blog can be seen at http://reducingreoffending.blogspot.com .
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In 2000, the Military Covenant said -
“Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices – including the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ in the service of the Nation. In return, British soldiers must always be able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals, and that they (and their families) will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service.”
This Covenant acknowledges that the State has a ‘duty of care’ to members of it Armed Forces.
“When I left the Army in 2004 I had been diagnosed as suffering with depression. I left the main gate of my Regiment with my TV in one hand and my kit bag in the other, not knowing where I was going or what to do” – a former Army soldier now serving 7 years in prison.
Whilst in recent times support for military veterans has undoubtedly improved, regrettably an increasing number are entering the justice system. Official estimates of numbers in prison vary between 3.5% and 9% with individual prisons reporting 14%. Accurate numbers on probation and community orders are not known; however, NAPO suggests as many as 12,500. Whichever figs are accurate, former military veterans represent the largest occupational group within our justice system; this surely says something is wrong!
A recent report by the Howard League for Penal Reform, entitled ‘Leaving Forces Life’ concluded that, despite there being a great deal more help available via service charities, individuals are still falling through the net and ending up in the Justice System, often years after discharge. Issues stemming from post-service dysfunction, mental illness, poverty, addictions and marital breakdown are all contributing. None can be seen as being addressed within the ‘spirit’ of the Military Covenant.
An alternative to custody and probation for military veteran offenders is urgently needed. To that end, a new and innovative project is currently being developed. Entitled ‘The Veterans Change Partnership’, it involves four Third Sector organisations delivering intensive and purposeful residential programmes of rehabilitation, personal development, skills training and ongoing mentor support into accommodation, further training and work.
The project has been welcomed by the Minister for Prisons, Rt Hon Crispin Blunt MP and efforts are now being made to identify the necessary funding.
The organisations involved include –
Alabare’ Christian Care and Support, Exeter City YMCA, The Langley House Trust and Life Change UK.
All have a depth of experience in working with people with complex needs and who present a high risk of re-offending.
More information is available via Trevor at trevor.philpott@lifechangeuk.com or 07779221162
For some 10-years until just over a year ago, I held a ministerial appointment as chair of a statutory NDPB dealing with disabled veterans. I now continue to support veterans by appearing pro-bono at pensions appeal tribunals dealing with illnesses claimed to be attributable to nuclear radiation. That and my almost 40-years of service has convinced me that society has failed the ex-service community and is continuing to do so. I thus greatly welcome Trevor’s long-overdue initiative and thoroughly commend it to all those who care about (and for) those who have suffered on our behalf.
Andrew A