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What is Community Payback?
Community Payback is a tough and visible consequence for people who have committed a crime.
Offenders, who can be sentenced by magistrates to carry out up to 300 hours unpaid work for the community, may find themselves hacking back dense undergrowth, clearing rubbish or scrubbing graffiti from walls.
Where possible an element of training is included to enable offenders to get a job – one of the most important factors in reducing the likelihood of re-offending.
While doing this work offenders are required to wear high-visibility jackets to show the public the contribution they are making to the community.
Offenders in Bedfordshire contribute more than 88,000 hours of unpaid work on useful projects in our community each year. The projects serve both as part of their punishment and their rehabilitation.
Luton - A National Pilot
In 2009, the Government is running a national campaign to raise awareness about Community Payback.
Luton has been chosen as one of the pilot areas, and we are working closely with our partners to ensure its success.
As part of the campaign the public are invited to vote on five specially selected projects, the details of which are set out below.
We want you to choose which of the five projects you would most like to see us tackle first. The others will be done in order according to the number of votes cast.
Taylor Street Car Park
The Taylor Street car park is a site often used for illegal encampments. It is an eyesore situated in the centre of High Town and needs a good tidy up.
Rear of Wolfsburg Court, Hockwell Ring
This area of land backs on to social housing and is often used for fly-tipping. Once the vegetation is cut back and the area cleared of rubbish the land could be developed and landscaped.
Riverside at Montague Avenue
This is an area which is overgrown and is often used by criminals. If the vegetation was cut back and the area cleaned up, it would be much more user-friendly and attractive for day-to-day use by the local community.
Kingsland Road
Situated to the rear of Strathmore Avenue Methodist Church and overlooked by high rise flats, this is a jungle of vegetation and litter. Clearing the area would really improve its appearance.
Manor Road Park
Situated in the South Luton Ward, the River Lea and its bank could make a superb feature for the area. All they needs is some care and attention.
To cast your vote visit communitypayback.direct.gov.uk or call 01582 547088.
More about Community Payback in Bedfordshire
Community Payback projects will continue across Bedfordshire as usual, so please keep sending us your ideas for projects across the County, including Luton.
The project:
- must benefit the local community
- must not take away paid work from others
- be non-profit making
We are particularly keen to receive ideas for projects which will make our community a safer place
Send your idea to: Community.Payback@Bedfordshire.Probation.gsi.gov.uk
All projects are strictly supervised by Probation Staff, and at the end of the project a plaque will be put up to show that the work has been completed by offenders.
Community Payback Information Leaflet
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