INSIDE TRACK
Almost a quarter of prisoners have a gambling problem . We need to do something about it , says Carwyn Gravell
In August last year , The
Forward Trust undertook a ground-breaking survey into the gambling issues of prisoners , the first of its kind in England and Wales . The results were clear : a significant proportion of people in prison – 23 per cent –
While a relatively small amount of people said that gambling directly contributed to the reason they are in prison or that their crime or lifestyle drove them to gamble , many others identified gambling as the cause of major problems in their life . reported feeling that they have a gambling problem . What ’ s more , 57 per cent of respondents think that support to address gambling harm should be offered in prison .
The survey took place in 14 prisons during August and September 2020 . While a relatively small amount of people said that gambling directly contributed to the reason they are in prison ( 4 per cent ), or that their crime or lifestyle drove them to gamble ( 2 per cent ), many others identified gambling as the cause of major problems in their life . Fourteen per cent had experienced debt , 11 per cent had experienced relationship issues , and 5 per cent had lost their job due to their gambling .
Gambling – and the harm it can cause – was also prevalent within the prison system itself . Despite having access to little money while in custody , over one in five respondents ( 22 per cent ) said they had gambled while in prison in the last 12 months , mainly on sporting events . Though 29 per cent of people thought gambling in prison was just a ‘ bit of fun ’, 14 per cent had witnessed other prisoners getting into serious debt .
Most prisoners didn ’ t think that gambling in prisons had increased during lockdown – a time when many have been confined to their cells with no family visits allowed , and little access to interventions or meaningful activity such as education . However , more than half ( 57 per cent ) said their mental health had become worse .
The survey was funded through a regulatory settlement approved by the Gambling Commission . Helen Rhodes , Gambling Commission director of the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms , said , ‘ We were keen to support this survey , as well as the action taken by The Forward Trust to offer support to prevent harm during COVID . It shows in part what the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms is all about – building a greater understanding of gambling harms and then working in partnership to effectively tackle those harms .
DDN ’ s free guide to gambling addiction and treatment options is available at www . drinkanddrugsnews . com / gambling-addiction-guide
If you have advice or experiences of treatment , for our next gambling-themed feature , please email the editor : claire @ cjwellings . com
We are very positive about the opportunities for collaboration across the criminal justice field to prevent and reduce harms associated with gambling .’
As the leading provider of treatment and support to tackle drug and alcohol addiction in prison , Forward have long recognised gambling as a related problematic behaviour for our clients . This survey confirms the prevalence of the problem and the issues it generates , as well as its contribution to crime . The findings clearly point to the urgent need to develop and test a range of programmes to address the problem .
Carwyn Gravell is divisional director of business development at The Forward Trust
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