Labour Party News

Let Southampton see payback by offenders

From this week branded high-visibility jackets must be worn by offenders carrying out work on community payback projects in Southampton.

Community payback projects already happen across the UK, with 5 million hours of compulsory unpaid work are already performed by offenders each year. Local communities can suggest projects they believe would benefit from community payback work. These projects could be bringing derelict areas and buildings back into public use, clearing churchyards, repairing park benches or removing graffiti.

The beginning of high profile community payback follows on from the announcement in November that Southampton would be one of the 60 Crime and Justice Pioneer areas, and will have a dedicated Neighbourhood Crime and Justice (NCJ) Co-ordinator – to ensure that Community Payback in the local community is visible and tough, that victims of crime are supported to reduce re-offending and that the public know the rights that the new national Policing Pledge gives them.

John Denham MP said:

“This is about fair rules - people who work hard and play by the rules are properly rewarded - and those that don’t must face the consequences of their actions. We all want to see justice being done with offenders paying back for breaking the rules.

“When I was chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, I argued that Community Payback should be visible if it is to retain public support, so I am glad to see the government is now following this approach.”

Alan Whitehead MP said:

“What people have said to me is that sometimes they didn’t know work being done in their area was actually payback by criminals. So these new jackets will show people that this work, like cleaning up graffiti, is being done by offenders paying back for their crimes.

“My research as a member of the Justice Committee also shows that offenders on community sentences have almost half the recidivism rate compared to those on short prison sentences, so it is very important we continue to use community sentences wherever appropriate.”

Launching the jackets, Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw said:

‘Community punishments like unpaid work can be more productive than prison in getting offenders to stop their criminality. But public confidence in these punishments is lower than it should be, not least because they are less visible than they should be.

“The public, the taxpayer, has an absolute right to know what unpaid work is being done to payback to them for the wrongs the offender has committed. These visibility jackets with the distinctive legend ‘Community Payback’ are one way in which I am trying to open up this part of the criminal justice system.”

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

“Making sure that people feel safe and secure in their communities is my top priority. And central to that is building people’s confidence that crime is being tackled in their areas and justice is being done – and being seen to be done.

“The new high visibility jackets for Community Payback are another step in helping to build community confidence in the criminal justice system.”

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