Community Payback: the public have had their say and votes announced
18 June 2009
Following a large-scale vote across the country to give the public a greater say in how criminals should pay back to the community, the public have decided on the projects that offenders must first complete across England and Wales.
A total of 18,000 people have voted for what Community Payback they would like to see offenders in 54 areas across the country carry out first from a list of five projects per area. The three-week vote through the Directgov website was part of the ‘Justice Seen, Justice Done’ campaign to raise awareness of Community Payback as a tough punishment for criminals, following the launch of branded high visibility orange jackets that offenders must now wear.
Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw said:
‘The public response to this campaign clearly shows that the public – the taxpayer – wants to have a say in Community Payback and want to see that justice is being done in their community.
‘As I have said it is crucial that the public should have a say in the community punishments offenders receive and that they have a right to know what offenders are doing in their neighbourhood to repay for the wrongs committed.
‘We are determined to open up the justice system across England and Wales. Recent steps to do this include the appointment of a dedicated Victims Champion, giving distinctive orange jackets to offenders and now ensuring the public know they have a say in punishing offenders.’
The scheme was promoted in local newspapers and on local radio to raise awareness. The roll-out of visible Community Payback across England and Wales builds on a recommendation from the government’s Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey’s review, ‘Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime’, published a year ago today outlining the importance of justice being visible. It seeks to improve the community’s confidence in Community Payback as a punishment so that people will be more likely to come forward to report crime, give evidence in court and support their neighbours to do the same.
Every year over 55,000 criminals receive Community Payback – carrying out over six million hours of physical work on behalf of their communities to payback for their crimes. A poll of 1,000 people conducted by MORI in November 2008 found that more needed to be done to raise awareness of the scheme.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:
‘It is vital that the public see that justice is being done and Community Payback is a crucial part of that. By making it possible for the public to have their say on which projects offenders should carry out in their communities, we are giving the law-abiding majority a voice, which in turn helps build their confidence in the criminal justice system. The key to ongoing success is ensuring that the public continue to be aware of Community Payback and understand how they can get involved in seeing justice being done.’
Government Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey said:
‘People want to know that criminals are being made to pay back for their crimes. Community Payback schemes make this a reality and, very importantly, they also now give the public a say in what criminals must actually do to serve their punishment and pay back to local communities.
‘Hopefully this will give local people confidence that the system is on their side and that punishment can be tough – then they might be more likely to report crimes and help the police bring more offenders to justice. I’m looking forward to seeing the projects completed so that they will be of real benefit to communities.’
Courts are now able to hand out tougher and more intense penalties for a range of crimes to offenders who are ordered to carry out work in the community.
Notes to editors
1. To suggest projects across Probation areas in England and Wales go to Directgov.
2. Louise Casey’s Engaging communities in fighting crime review
3. A copy of the full MORI poll can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice Press Office – details below.
4. These voting schemes have been carried out in Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Pioneer Areas. These areas were invited to bid to have this status on the basis of a variety of data including deprivation, population size and crime information. However, equally important in agreeing bids was their determination to work with local communities to address local concerns about crime, anti-social behaviour and justice.
5. Funding of £6.8 million is available to support the Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Pioneer Areas in 2008/09 and 2009/10
6. The winning projects are:
Barking and Dagenham: Goresbrook Village play area and nearby shops in Maplestead Road
Offenders will remove rubbish and graffiti before cutting back hedges and painting the play area.
Barnsley: Rockingham Garden Community Project
Offenders will transform the garden by planting wildflowers, painting benches and repairing damage to footpaths, making it a brighter place for everyone to enjoy.
Birmingham: Brookvale and Witton Lakes
The lakes in Stockland Green and Kingstanding are blighted by persistent rubbish and litter which affects people who use the park and even local wildlife. Offenders will clean up the area making it a safer and more enjoyable public space.
Blackburn with Darwen: Olive Lane Darwen
To cut down anti-social behaviour, Olive Lane requires a complete overhaul. Offenders will remove graffiti and clean up the back streets.
Blackpool: Ibbison Court
Football games outside Ibbison Court have resulted in broken windows and disturbance to older residents. Offenders will dig out flower beds to enhance the look of the area.
Bolton: Underground (A666) Subway
The subway from Churchgate to Castle Street is an eyesore. Offenders will be removing all the debris, scrubbing off graffiti, picking up litter and cutting back the overgrown shrubs and bushes.
Brent: the Grand Union Canal
The canal needs a thorough tidy-up as it passes through Brent to make this a more pleasant place for residents to stroll along the towpath.
Bristol: Bristol/Bath cycle path
This cycle route has become a target for fly-tipping and graffiti. In the areas of dense undergrowth a large amount of litter has been dropped. Offenders will overhaul the path to make it cleaner and safer for residents.
Caerphilly: Churchill Park, Caerphilly
The estate consists of a series of cul-de-sacs linked by interconnecting lanes and green areas. The area, and nearby playing field, will be cleared by offenders, who will remove litter and dumped rubbish.
Camden: West End Lane to Finchley Road pathways
Known as Black Path and Lithos Passage, these walkways are ready for a tidy up and graffiti removal. The work done by offenders will boost local residents’ feeling of safety when using them.
Cardiff: Cardiff West and South West
The areas of Plymouth Woods, Bromley Drive and Birdies Lane have large car parks and play areas associated with anti-social behaviour. Offenders will remove graffiti, clear litter and restore access to lanes and pathways by cutting back overgrowth.
Doncaster: Askern Lake
Offenders will carry out significant improvements in the area – included painting, repairing boats and heavy building work.
Hackney: River Lea Towpath
Offenders will clear litter and weeds and cut back overgrown vegetation at this popular leisure spot.
Halton: Trans Pennine Way
This long distance footpath and cycleway attracts rubbish and graffiti as it cuts through Halton. Offenders will clean it up, removing litter and fly-tipping, and scrubbing off graffiti.
Hammersmith and Fulham: Wormholt Estates
Communal areas on the estate deserve to be kept just as tidy as residents’ properties. Offenders will overhaul the sites by carrying out work such as hedge trimming.
Haringey: All Hallows Church
The monument and area surrounding the church are overgrown with ivy and bushes. The site will be fully pruned and litter removed providing church-goers and the local community with a more inviting place to visit.
Islington: Islington Cemetery and Crematorium
This calm and restful site offers families and friends an opportunity to pay their respects in peace. Offenders will undertake maintenance work and tackle the gardens.
Kingston upon Hull: Graham Avenue Triangle
This section of open ground has become very overgrown and suffered from a large amount of fly tipping. Offenders will remove the large volume of items and the City Council will ensure further fly-tipping is restricted.
Knowsley: Langton Road Public Open Space, Tower Hill, North Kirkby
The site is an eyesore with old litter, broken glass, burnt out areas and churned up grass from cars having been set alight.
Offenders will clear the site, cut back shrubs and paint over graffiti.
Lambeth: Gipsy Hill Rail Station
This site includes a plot of land near a side exit which has become a litter hotspot. Offenders will clear the area.
Leicester: Beaumont Leys
The field area around Scalpay Close and Beaumont Walk is overgrown and has become a target for graffiti. Offenders will cut back overgrown hedges, remove graffiti and take down unauthorised posters.
Liverpool: Lodge Lane Project, Toxteth
Offenders will be giving the areas around Lodge Lane a ‘deep clean’. Centred around Aspen Grove, Ritson Street and Tiber Street, they will remove litter and debris and scrub off graffiti.
Luton: Taylor Street Car Park
This area, currently an eyesore at the centre of High Town, will greatly benefit from a thorough ‘deep clean’ by offenders.
Middlesbrough: Netherfields, repainting of street furniture
Offenders will repaint all street furniture which will have a huge visual impact on the area, brightening it up and helping to build pride in the area.
Newcastle upon Tyne: Fawdon Park
Blighted by anti-social behaviour and vandalism, offenders will make this area safer for local residents, by disposing of discarded bottles and cans, cleaning away graffiti and cutting back vegetation.
Newham: streets of Plaistow
Offenders will undertake a comprehensive clean up of residential streets, garages and open areas around Plaistow by removing graffiti and litter.
Newport: Acacia Avenue, Somerton
This area is in desperate need of a clean up; offenders will remove graffiti from walls and garages, rebuild a wall and repair steps leading to Aberthaw Road as well as cutting back hedges.
North East Lincolnshire: waste ground next to Boyes car park
This area is strewn with rubbish such as empty bottles and shattered glass. Offenders will undertake a complete clear up.
Northampton: Bellinge Ponds
Overgrowth is completely blocking the pathway around both ponds. Offenders will hack back the overgrowth to restore the natural beauty of the area and make the ponds more accessible.
Nottingham: Basford, Mill Street Playing Fields
Offenders will clean up the entire area to make way for a nature reserve to be enjoyed by residents.
Nuneaton and Bedworth: Coton area
This area is blighted by graffiti and general littering. Offenders will remove graffiti and clean up the area.
Oldham: Royton area
Offenders will remove rubbish and clear land to the rear of Turfland Avenue and make substantial improvements to the environment to create a safer area for all.
Peterborough: Stagsden, Orton Goldhay
This site desperately needs a clean-up and repair, and a nearby car park is also blighted by fly tipping. Offenders will restore both areas by clearing and cleaning.
Preston: Moor Park
This park is overgrown. Offenders will clear the land so local residents can once again enjoy this space.
Redcar and Cleveland: Red Lion Street – Lord Street
Offenders will significantly improve the appearance of the area by removing graffiti and litter as well as cutting back overgrown shrubbery.
Rochdale: Whitworth Road
This area is in need of a thorough tidy up. Offenders will need to work hard to clear the litter and clean up the roads, clear the pathway and cutback the overgrown shrubs and weeds.
Rotherham: Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Catcliffe
The grounds are in need of repair and restoration. Offenders will cut back overgrown shrubs and clear up the unsightly rubbish that has built up in the surrounding streets.
Salford: St Clements Church, Ordsall
The grounds of this church need a thorough clean up. The project will see offenders cutting back overhanging trees, pruning bushes, digging flower beds and clearing away all rubbish.
Sandwell: Union Street, Wednesbury
Union Street and the surrounding area is blighted by graffiti and litter. Offenders will overhaul the area.
Sheffield: Chancet Wood Respite Home
Offenders will tackle this large gardening project to create a woodland walk and provide wheelchair access to the woods and sensory garden.
Slough: Moray Drive
An area of wasteland on Moray Drive, near Wexham Road, has been earmarked for a mobile youth centre during the school holidays. The area will be cleared by offenders to make this happen, removing rubbish and cutting back brambles and weeds.
South Tyneside: Temple Memorial Park Footpath
This footpath will be used by children walking to a new school. Offenders will make it safe and pleasant, clearing rubbish and debris which have built up over time.
Southampton: Exford Avenue
Running through the Harefield Estate, this wooded area and small stream currently look like a tip. It will be a nice, peaceful place to sit and could attract wildlife when abandoned bikes, trolleys and rubbish are removed by offenders.
St. Helens: Sankey Valley at Blackbrook
Graffiti and litter has ruined this riverside area. Offenders will work to clean it up and remove rubbish from the water.
Stoke-on-Trent: High Street, Goldenhill
Sandwiched between Elgood Street and Heathside Lane this semi-rural area is overgrown with vegetation and prone to fly-tipping, litter and neglect. Offenders will overhaul and clean up the area making it more pleasant for local residents.
Sunderland: Holley Park, Lambton
This park is in need of a ‘deep clean’. Offenders will cut back overgrowth and remove unwanted rubbish.
Swansea: Swansea Bay/County Hall
Concentrating on an area of Swansea Beach adjacent to County Hall and a nearby playground which is the site of anti-social behaviour, offenders will remove extensive amounts of litter.
Tameside: Smallshaw Fields, Ashton
The fields are blighted by litter and dumped rubbish. Offenders will give them a thorough clean up, repairing the pathways, removing the rubbish and cutting back the undergrowth to make it a cleaner, safer place.
Thanet: Broadstairs and St Peters Churchyard
An extensive ‘deep clean’ by offenders is needed to remove the litter, fly tipping and graffiti.
Tower Hamlets: Brick Lane
Graffiti and litter are real problems in this vibrant and lively area. Offenders will work to rejuvenate this area to prevent a downward cycle of neglect.
Wakefield: parade of shops at Queen Elizabeth Drive, Normanton
This community hub needs an overhaul. Offenders will clear away rubbish to give residents a more pleasant place to shop.
Walsall: Curtin Drive Darlaston, Walsall
This area of barren land needs a total overhaul including graffiti removal, litter picking, clearing rubbish and fencing. Offenders will turn this land into a garden area.
Waltham Forest: Mansfield Park
This popular park is in need of an extensive clean up to remove litter from hedgerows and undergrowth. This will lead to a smarter, tidier site that local residents and visitors can continue to enjoy.
Wolverhampton: Waterways canal clearance
This canal, along the stretch from the Sneyd to the factory locks at Tipton, is in desperate need of a clean up. Offenders will remove debris and waste from the water.
If media require more information please contact the Ministry of Justice Press Office on 020 3334 3536.