WIREDGOV

The Probation Service is teaming up with Keep Britain Tidy for this year's 'Big Tidy Up' in which offenders on Community Payback are cleaning up areas of England that have been nominated by the new Tidy Up Champions.

The 11 Tidy Up Champions will put offenders to work to tidy up areas of the community that will make a real difference to the lives of those living and working in the chosen area. The work with Keep Britain Tidy follows a public vote in which members of the public were encouraged to nominate and 'have their say' on projects they want to see made over by offenders in their area. This is part of the ongoing 'Justice Seen Justice Done' Campaign to make justice more visible.

Keep Britain Tidy launched the Big Tidy Up last year and has so far seen 15,000 clean-ups take place nationwide with a staggering 50,000 bags of rubbish being collected. But there is more to be done. The long term goal of the campaign is to see 500,000 bags of litter collected across England, helping to keep our country clean and tidy.

Community Payback aims to increase public awareness of the work done by offenders as punishment and to make reparation for their crimes. The introduction of high-vis orange jackets in December last year ensures that the public can see that justice is being done and that offenders are making amends for their crimes in the community.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said:

'I am delighted that Community Payback schemes have teamed up with Keep Britain Tidy today in making visible differences to local communities in England.

'Environmental work makes up approximately a quarter of all work carried out by offenders on Community Payback and ensures that offenders are paying back by making amends for their crimes in the community.

'People want to know that criminals are making reparations for their crimes and Community Payback schemes make this a reality. And importantly, Community Payback also now gives the public a say in what criminals must actually do to serve their punishment.'

Phil Barton, Keep Britain Tidy chief executive said:

'The level of rubbish on our streets remains unsatisfactory nationwide and we are totally committed to tackling the problem of litter.

'By involving the Probation Service and offenders on Community Payback, in the month long blitz we are making a visible difference to communities blighted by rubbish with offenders contributing towards a worthwhile project. We also hope that it will influence their own behaviour in the future and will encourage them not to drop litter themselves.'

Last year over 62,000 offenders successfully completed community payback sentences in England and Wales. It is estimated that over 8 million hours of free labour were provided to benefit communities by offenders sentenced to the unpaid work. Community Payback is never carried out on work that can be undertaken by paid employees but the additional work they do is valued at over £45 million (if paid at minimum wage) of reparation to communities.

Notes to editors

1. The 11 Tidy Up Champion Areas where projects are being tidied up by offenders on Community Payback during the month long Big Tidy Up are:
   
   
   • Arun
   • Bedford
   • Dacorum
   • Hartlepool
   • Leeds
   • Leicester
   • Nottingham
   • Trafford
   • Warwick
   • Teignbridge
   • Isle of Wight.
     
2. To suggest projects for offenders across Probation areas in England and Wales visit Directgov - community payback
3. To suggest areas to Tidy Up for Keep Britain Tidy visit Big Tidy Up
4. If media require more information regarding Community Payback please contact the Ministry of Justice Press Office on 020 33 34 35 14
5. If media require more information the Big Tidy Up please contact the Keep Britain tidy Press Office 01942 612617