Payback Launches in London

The London wide launch of Community Payback in London took place in Southall, Ealing on 29 September. The project being tackled by 'Payback' is a public pathway allowing a direct route from the Havelock Estate, to the busy Uxbridge Road and its public transport connections. Until now it was deemed unsafe by local residents.

At the launch, David Scott - Lodnon Probation Chief Officer, explained probation's long time involvement with Community Payback: "The probation service invented what was then called community service and the concept of offenders working unpaid in the community as a sentence of the court. We've been doing it for 30 years plus, we're actually pretty good at it and we're proud of it and we're proud it's extended to almost every criminal justice jurisdiction around the world."

David Scott was joined by Brian Paddick - Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, who handed a Community Payback plaque to Shelley Adams - Ealing Council's Executive Director, Strategy and Development which will be put up in the area being worked on.

The problems of fly tipping, litter and overgrown hedges were highlighted by a local resident in a resident's focus group meeting. Improving the condition of the path will send out a positive signal to the local community that their concerns are being taken seriously and acted upon. Ann Baker, a local resident stated that until recently the area was "filthy" and that she would never take her grandaughter there. After the clean-up she is going to take her grandaughter to use the playground in the area.

Operation Community Payback is a joint initiative with London Probation, Safer Neighbourhoods police officers and local authorities. The scheme has been launched in a number of boroughs and is being rolled out across the whole capital during 2005-06.

Local residents are leafleted explaining how the scheme works and asking them to contact the council specifying which area of their neighbourhood concerns them most. The council works closely with probation and the police making sure that the area has been risk assessed and is suitable for Unpaid Work.

A group of offenders supervised by a London Probation supervisor and a police officer work in a designated area. Local council workers sometimes work alongside the offenders at the site, taking away rubbish in their vehicles. This unique partnership has been deemed successful by local residents who have provided very positive feedback. It is hoped that this scheme will increase the visibility of Unpaid Work in the community, thus helping to reduce the fear of crime and increase community confidence in local community based answers to re-offending.