UK:'One in eight soldiers' commits violence on return

'One in eight soldiers' commits violence on return
By Jane Deith
24 July 2012

One in eight soldiers has attacked someone after coming home from a combat deployment, research suggests.

Ministry of Defence-funded researchers surveyed 13,000 Army personnel and say they found a link between combat and trauma, and violent behaviour - often towards their partners.

Former head of the Army General Richard Dannatt warned a cultural change is needed within the forces.

The Ministry of Defence said it had measures to manage violence.

The study by Dr Deirdre MacManus, at The Kings Centre for Military Health Research, found an association between soldiers' experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, and violent behaviour at home.

Soldiers involved in direct combat were twice as likely as others to admit having hit someone at the end of the tour, the research found.

A third of the victims were someone in the family - often a wife or girlfriend.
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