- To mark Armed Forces Week (from 19 June), staff from HM Prison and Probation Service urge veterans to follow in their footsteps by forging a rewarding new career to help to break the cycle of crime and change lives
- Revamped ‘Advance into Justice’ scheme offers more prison job opportunities and roles in the probation service for the first time
Armed Forces veterans and service leavers are being offered an opportunity to start a second career as a prison officer with the re-launch of a government scheme designed to fast-track them into employment.
‘Advance into Justice’ aims to provide a stable career for former military personnel and service leavers and significantly reduces the length of the standard prison officer application process.
The scheme, which is now in its second year, has been expanded to include a wider range of prison-based jobs including operational support grade, physical education instructors and caterers, plus there are opportunities in a range of probation roles, including probation services officers, approved premises workers and case administrators. The eligibility criteria has also been widened to include veterans who left the Armed Forces within the last five years, those within the last 12 months of service and their spouses or partners.
Prisons Minister Damian Hinds said:
“To serve in the Armed Forces you need good communication, discipline and resilience – skills that are also essential for frontline roles across the prison service.
“Advance into Justice enables veterans and service leavers to embark on a second career in the criminal justice system – playing a vital role in protecting the public and giving prisoners a second chance to help break the cycle of crime and change lives.”
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer said:
“I have always been clear that securing stable employment is one of the best ways for veterans to successfully transition into civilian life.
“That’s why I’m delighted to see the Advance into Justice scheme being continued for another year, with government taking the lead in showing others the benefits that our veterans can bring to any employer.”
Luke Whitehead, 29, applied to join the Prison Service through last year’s ‘Advance into Justice’ pilot having served for 12 years in the Kings Royal Hussars regiment and said:
“My Dad served for 30 years in the Army before joining the prison service seven years ago, so I knew it would be an interesting job. He told me about the ‘Advance into Justice’ scheme and following a one-day assessment, I joined the team at HMP Winchester alongside him.
“Being in the Army is a lot like being a prison officer with the similar rank structure and camaraderie – I feel like I’ve fitted in instantly and I’ve really enjoyed it.
“You need to be able to talk to people and listen to what they have to say. Sometimes prisoners can be having a bad day and being able to chat to them after an issue has arisen can be really important. My advice to people in the Forces who are thinking about becoming a prison officer would be to go for it. It’s something different every day and you feel like you are making a real difference to prisoners’ lives.”
Lee-Ann Lloyd, 39, served in the Royal Signals for eight years as an Area System Operator before leaving the Armed Forces in 2007. She is now enjoying her second career having joined the prison service in 2018. Since joining HMP Nottingham, Lee-Ann has been promoted and worked in several different posts including in the security team.
Lee-Ann, who supported at last year’s prison officer assessment centres for AiJ candidates, said:
“After leaving the Forces I had a number of jobs but didn’t settle until I joined the prison service where I have really found my home. When you leave the military you crave the camaraderie, which you can’t really get from working in a warehouse or supermarket. But the working environment in prisons is very similar to the Forces because it’s made up of like-minded people.
“People, like me, who have experience in ‘uniform services’, such as the military, are uniquely suited to working in prisons. To thrive in the prison service, you need to have resilience, discipline and a strong character to deal with some challenging incidents – these are all qualities people from military backgrounds have in abundance.
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