Bright idea means offenders give back; Government adviser sees plan in action.

Byline: Sophie Doughty

DRESSED in bright orange jackets, criminals have been seen giving something back to their communities.

In an effort to prove to the public that police and the Government take crime and punishment seriously, Government Crime and Justice Advisor Louise Casey was in Sunderland yesterday to see how offenders can give something back and be punished at the same time.

Community Payback was introduced last December as a way of making sure people can see justice being done.

It involves giving convicted criminals a tough job to do, but one that has a positive impact on the area.

And while carrying out this hard graft, the offenders are forced to wear florescent orange jackets..

Ms Casey saw offenders landscape an area of derelict land by Southwick Community Primary School removing litter, strimming grass and planting trees.

She said she hoped seeing criminals doing good for the public would encourage people to report crime.

"Community Payback makes sure criminals pay for crimes and that the law abiding majority benefit," she said.

"The project I visited today shows how offenders can transform waste ground such as this into an area that whole community can make use of and enjoy." She added:" The public wanted this particular place sorting out.

"A lot of people say they don't feel like it's worth reporting crime because there are no consequences for the criminals.

"Some have said the orange jackets are degrading, but I disagree, because these people have committed a crime. Community Service is often seen as a soft option but this is hard graft Coun Tom Foster, chair of the Safer Sunderland Partnership, which is led by Sunderland City Council said: "It is the involvement of local people which makes projects such as Community Payback so important.

"That's because it is their views which help us focus on particular areas which they feel would most immediately benefit from the kind of work and attention it can provide." As part of the national Community Payback scheme people in Sunderland and other areas, were given the chance to vote on where they thought should benefit and the five local areas nominated as potential tasks for offenders to restore and clean up were; Hylton Castle Dene, Holley Park, Lambton, Barnes Park, Marley Potts, and Ryhope..

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THE FUTURE'S ORANGE Anti-social behaviour expert Louise Casey witnesses the Community Payback scheme in Southwick, Sunderland.