Bob Laxton MP says

"People in Derby want to see payback by offenders"

Bob Laxton MP welcomes high visibility jackets for offenders on community payback schemes.

From this week branded high-visibility jackets must be worn by offenders carrying out work on community payback projects in Derby. 

Bob Laxton MP said:

"This is about fair rules - people who work hard and play by the rules are properly rewarded - and those that don't must face the consequences of their actions.  We all want to see justice being done with offenders paying back for breaking the rules.

"What people have said to me is that sometimes they didn't know work being done in their area was actually payback by criminals.  So these new jackets will show people that this work, like cleaning up graffiti, is being done by offenders paying back for their crimes. 

Launching the jackets, Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw said:

'Community punishments like unpaid work can be more productive than prison in getting offenders to stop their criminality. But public confidence in these punishments is lower than it should be, not least because they are less visible than they should be. 

"The public, the taxpayer, has an absolute right to know what unpaid work is being done to payback to them for the wrongs the offender has committed. These visibility jackets with the distinctive legend 'Community Payback' are one way in which I am trying to open up this part of the criminal justice system."

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

“Making sure that people feel safe and secure in their communities is my top priority. And central to that is building people’s confidence that crime is being tackled in their areas and justice is being done – and being seen to be done. 

“The new high visibility jackets for Community Payback are another step in helping to build community confidence in the criminal justice system.”