Community Orders

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to inform the public about work being undertaken by convicted criminals serving community service orders.

Mr. Hanson
Local probation areas promote the work they do locally with offenders serving community sentences and in particular in the case of Community Payback. Nationally, the Ministry of Justice is also working with the cross Government National Crime and Justice Group on developing communications that will include messages about Community Payback in local areas. Plans will be announced shortly.

The Government are committed to increased public visibility and involvement in Community Payback so that local communities are aware of both offenders being punished and the work that they undertake. A forthcoming Green Paper will outline how the Government intend to give the public more opportunities to propose work for offenders in local areas by for example, expanding the citizens panels, which are currently being piloted in six areas.

To increase visibility to the public high visibility distinctive clothing for offenders undertaking Community Payback was introduced on 1 December.