Communities Reap Benefit Of Community Payback

22nd December 2012

Unpaid work totalling one and three quarter million hours was imposed on low-level offenders in Scotland as punishment for their crimes in the last year, according to figures released today.

This included work to repair fallen gravestones, clean graffiti off streets and stairwells, remove chewing gum from pavements, renovate elderly care homes and building work to help improve sports facilities for the benefit of the community.

Today, the Justice Secretary urged local people across Scotland to have their say on the type of work they want to see low level offenders carrying out in their communities next year, with legislation having been brought in which means that communities can nominate projects they want to see work being carried out upon as pay back.

Mr MacAskill said:“This Government is working hard to ensure that Scotland is a safe place to live. Recorded crime at its lowest level for 37 years, supported by the work of more than 1,000 extra police officers in communities.

“These figures reflect the first full year of the Community Payback Order being used by the courts to bring offenders to justice.

"Punishment should be tough and we want to see low level offenders out making improvements to local communities as pay back for the damage they have done. Today’s statistics show that is happening with one and three quarters million hours of unpaid work imposed on offenders last year and communities are reaping the benefits right across the country.

“Whether it’s building work to renovate community facilities like changing facilities and bowling clubs, clearing chewing gum from our town centres or shovelling snow and ice to benefit members of the public, I have seen plenty of examples where CPOs are working and making a difference. Just this week, offenders have been working in Stonehaven to clear up damage caused by the weather.

“Offenders are being put to work swiftly, with more than seventy per cent of offenders starting unpaid work within seven days of leaving court.

“We’ve recently brought in new laws meaning that local communities can now have a say on the type of manual labour they want to see low-level offenders carrying out in their local areas. Communities across the country can now identify the local priorities which need work doing and get offenders out doing them for the benefit of the community. Whatever the local priority, I’d urge people to get in touch with their local Criminal Justice Social Work team if they want action being taken.”

“Prison will always be the right place for serious and dangerous offenders but for low level offenders the statistics are stark and show us that short sentences do not work. We want to see more low level offenders repaying their dues to the community, rather than serving a short prison sentence that in the long term, does not reduce reoffending or protect the public.”

The Community Payback Order came into force in Scotland on 1 February 2011 and replaced provisions for Community Service Orders, Probation Orders and Supervised Attendance Orders.