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Community payback is working
OFFENDERS worked 316,000 hours on Community Payback projects last year, worth nearly £2million in free labour to communities in Sussex and Surrey.
Community Payback is work carried out by offenders as part of their sentence and enables them to give something back for the crimes they have committed.
The projects range from single placements with small voluntary organisations to large groups undertaking conservation work and to clearing up eyesores in town centres.
Surrey & Sussex Probation Trust this week published its Community Payback Annual Report which outlined the kind of projects undertaken and the number of hours worked by offenders in 2011.
The report also looked at a number of case studies which highlight particular projects carried out in Surrey and Sussex in 2011.
They include external and internal painting and cutting back hedges at an Eastbourne school, digging a wildlife pond and hedge laying at Park Wood, Hailsham, clearing passageways in Eastbourne, painting and decorating the Eastbourne Sea Cadets building and painting Cavendish School.
One Eastbourne offender, who was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work last year for assault, was placed to work in a St Wilfrid’s Hospice shop.
His probation officer said he reported being made to feel like a normal staff member. Because of the relationship he had formed with the team, he intends to do a parachute jump in December in aid of their charity.
He has already received £410 in sponsorship so far and hopes to persuade his employer to match any sponsorship raised.”
Nick Smart, acting chief executive of Surrey & Sussex Probation Trust, said, “The Community Payback team has continued to deliver high quality sentences for our courts that are challenging for offenders whilst providing tangible benefits for our communities.
!We welcome and encourage nominations from members of the public via our website.
“The process to tender Community Payback across the country has begun and we are committed to working with partners to continue to be a provider of Community Payback in Surrey and Sussex.”
For more information on Community Payback or to nominate a project visit our Community Payback pages.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
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rattonian
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:34 PMIt would appear that to agree to carry out unpaid community work proves that there really is a "Get out of jail" card.
Fred Chesney
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 03:40 PMThe EBC run a scheme called 'Grot Spot' areas or buildings that are in need of a cosmetic clear up, and Community Payback is used to do the work. However, outside work of course depends on the weather. The offenders cannot work if it is raining, snowing, too hot, too cold, or if there are any health and safety issues. If working inside, they cannot get their hands dirty, use ladders, or do any work that involves climbing. Community payback is working, but only for the layabouts who scream 'against my human rights' everytime they are requested to work. Last Summer a gang of offenders painting the benches along the seafront had time to sunbathe, drink tea, and oogle the pretty girls going past, nice work if you can get it. Whose getting the payback, certainly not the community.
roneoron
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:03 PMSo think what could be achieved if all those able bodied folk out of work had to report at 9am along with the offenders to earn their gifts from the taxpayer by working an eight hour day. Soon sort out those whom I've heard boasting that they've never worked other than in the black economy while on benefits!
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