HMP Whitemoor marks Armed Forces Day by celebrating veterans working in prisons
As Armed Forces Day (27th June) begins, the Prison Service is celebrating the veterans across its services highlighting the vital role they play in rehabilitation and public protection across Cambridgeshire.
Former forces personnel play an important role across the Prison Service, bringing with them the discipline, resilience and communication skills developed during their military careers.
This Armed Forces Day, HMP Whitemoor - a high security prison in Cambridgeshire - is highlighting the experiences of colleagues who have served in the Armed Forces and now apply their skills, professionalism and resilience to the Prison Service, reducing reoffending and keeping the public safe.
Prison Officer Jules Neil, 57, joined HMP Whitemoor in 2026 after serving for 10 years in the British Army. During his military career, he saw active service in the First Gulf War and completed two tours in Bosnia before leaving the Army in 1998. He was attracted to the Prison Service because of the job security it offered.
He said: “After three redundancies in five years, I was looking for something a bit more stable. The Army taught me how to adapt, work with all sorts of people and stay calm under pressure, and those skills have been really useful here at the prison. I'd definitely recommend the Prison Service to anyone thinking about applying. It's a secure job, the pension's decent, and no two days are the same.”
Prison Officer, Paul Mercer, 52, is a Supervising Officer in the Segregation Unit at HMP Whitemoor. He served 22 years in the Royal Artillery, based in Germany before returning to the UK at Larkhill. Paul joined the Prison Service in 2016 and is also calling on more veterans to follow in his footsteps.
He said: “Everything the forces teach you - discipline, time management, understanding a task and delivering first time - transfers directly into this role. My advice to any veteran thinking about it is to speak to someone already doing the job and go in with your eyes wide open. It will challenge you in all the right ways.”
Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Lord Timpson said: "The skills and values that veterans bring from their time in service are genuinely second to none. Their sense of duty and discipline makes them outstanding colleagues in our prisons and probation service.
I am proud that so many choose to begin new careers in justice, and I couldn't be more grateful for the contribution they make in keeping our communities safe."
Amanda Shepard, Chief Executive of The Poppy Factory, a charity focused on helping veterans with employment opportunities, said:
“Our experience supporting veterans into employment shows that jobs in prisons, probation and community payback teams are often a great for fit those who need a new direction in civilian life. Our specialist team is ready to work with HM Prison and Probation Service to find new opportunities for veterans that harness the skills they’ve developed in the Armed Forces.”
Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to recognise their contribution and inspire more service leavers across Whitemoor to follow in their footsteps.
Find out more about prison roles here.