July 22, 2005: Probation Pilot for Compulsory Unpaid Work

The National Probation Service has launched a series of projects as part of the Government’s drive to make Compulsory Unpaid Work more visible, and to promote greater engagement with local communities. The pilot schemes will operate in London, Liverpool, Durham, Hampshire, Suffolk and Kent. The projects are designed to encourage local communities to help identify suitable projects for offenders taking part in compulsory unpaid work schemes and to highlight the positive effect that this work can have on the local neighbourhood.

As part of the efforts to make compulsory unpaid work more visible, the pilot schemes will be branding the work being done with the new “community payback” logo, and completed projects will be marked with special plaques. The lessons  learnt from these pilot schemes will be used to establish a consistent approach that will be rolled out across the country later this year.

Baroness Scotland, Minister of State for Criminal Justice and Offender Management, commented:

“It is very important that the public can be confident in the criminal justice system. Tough community sentences which are properly enforced are a robust alternative to short term prison sentences, and can be a more effective way of addressing offending behaviour and helping offenders to live valuable, crime-free lives."

“Each year, offenders carry out more than 5 million hours of work. This is a valuable resource that performs an important service to local communities around the country. However, we want these communities to play a greater role in identifying the most appropriate projects for offenders to work on. I am very confident that initiatives such as these will provide an opportunity for offenders to make amends for their behaviour in the communities that have suffered most from their crimes, and will also help us to tackle crime and reduce re-offending.”