Jankers In the British Armed Services , jankers or Restrictions of Privileges is an official punishment for a minor breach of discipline , as opposed to the more severe punishment of " detention " which would be given for a man committing a more serious or criminal offence . To be " on jankers " meant the serviceman or woman had been put on a charge by a non - commissioned officer ( NCO ) or occasionally a commissioned officer , ( referred to in service slang as " being put on a fizzer " ) and so having his alleged offence entered on a Charge Report ( Army or RAF Form No . 252 ) . After appearing before an officer , the punishment might be ordered by the officer only after he has heard the evidence and had considered any mitigating factors . Terminology . " Jankers " is a much used vernacular term . The official Army terminology for jankers was " CB " which means " Confined to Barracks " or in the RAF " CC " " Confined to Camp " but later during the epoch of National Service the term was changed to " ROP " or " Restrictions of Privileges " in both Services . The term " jankers " is today very occasionally used jokingly in civilian life , such as in journalism to mean the punishment of minor infringements by the imposition of tedious duties . Ordering of jankers . As an alternative to ordering jankers , the officer may alternatively decide to " " dismiss the charge " " , if he considered the man had no case to answer . Or the officer may simply " " admonish " " him or her if he decided the alleged breach of discipline had occurred but was just not serious enough to warrant jankers . For some offences , like drunkenness , the officer might alternatively impose a fine instead of jankers . When Jankers was " awarded " by the officer taking the charge , the officer would also specify the number of days the jankers would last for up to a maximum of 14 days . The officer ' s decision , in this regard , was dependent upon his judgement of the seriousness , or otherwise , of the offence ( s ) committed and also whether it was a first offence or there were previous similar breaches of discipline already recorded on the man ' s or woman ' s conduct sheet e . g . " Jankers " was a familiar part of life during Regular and National Service in both the British Army and the Royal Air Force . The kinds of offences which , most typically , resulted in a man being put on jankers , have always been fairly minor breaches of discipline , most commonly being AWOL , e . g . returning to base slightly late after leave on a weekend pass . Other common offences , often resulting in a spell of jankers , were being caught still in bed after reveille , being drunk , being deemed " scruffy " when in uniform such as boots or brasses not gleaming satisfactorily , performing some minor duty lazily or carelessly , failing to comply correctly with some order or regulation , failing to salute an officer correctly or some other similar mistake , being late for some duty , being untidy or lazy in barrack room , such as not sweeping bed space properly or having dust on locker , making a sloppy bedpack , or else not being up to the required standard of smartness on parade or on a kit inspection . In many such cases , another officer might have ordered an NCO to " put that man on a Charge " when the breach of discipline or mistake was originally observed , and the form 252 would then be signed by the NCO . The more severe punishment of " " detention " " was given for offences which might be considered as criminal in a civil court , such as theft or violence against another person , or insubordination . Detention could only be given to a soldier or airman by the Commanding Officer , usually somebody of the Army rank of Colonel or RAF rank of Group Captain or by a convened Court Martial Board . Jankers could be given by a less senior officer , most typically a Captain or Flight Lieutenant . Being on jankers . Although what being on jankers involved has varied between different bases , different Services and over time , typically , whilst on jankers , the soldier or airmen was subjected to several punishment parades and inspections each day in different forms of dress , starting with working clothes fatigues half an hour after reveille , where he paraded outside the guardhouse for inspection by the Orderly Officer . After inspection , the offender is sent to perform a variety of tasks , often menial , before breakfast . After lunch , the man has to report again to the guardroom for inspection , and is then assigned unpleasant work , known as " fatigues " , until shortly before he must attend the afternoon ' s muster parade . After tea , he parades again at the guardhouse , this time in battledress and in battle order , where he is rigorously inspected . Any criticism of his turnout or equipment can result in another ' charge ' or ' fizzer . ' The final parade of the day was at 22 . 00 hours , and in best Battle Dress , best boots , sharply and cleanly turned out , and with every piece of equipment provided by the Army . After inspection , the soldier could then return to barracks , prepare his kit for tomorrow ' s parades , and then get to bed for some rest . The theory was that the whole punishment made the offender ' s daily life unpleasant , having to get up extremely early , then rushing about miserable , often having the mickey taken out of him by his mates and perhaps feeling humiliated . So he was thereby motivated never to repeat in future , the mistake or slackness that got him put on the charge in the first place . Being put on jankers was never considered an indication of bad character in the Services , but particularly in the days of conscription , rather more as normal Armed Forces discipline likely to be experienced by the majority of ratings at some time or other while in the Forces . British TV classic comedies , such as " It Ain ' t Half Hot Mum " and " Get Some In ! " and full length cinema films of that epoch like " Privates Progress " and " Carry on Sergeant habitually made fun of jankers , as have memoirs of life in the armed services . For example in the first episode of " It Ain ' t Half Hot Mum " Gunner Graham was put on " jankers " ( painting stones ) by the Sergeant Major .