Greater Manchester Probation Trust

RESIDENTS in Oldham have had their say on which Community Payback schemes offenders should complete across the borough.

Oldham is one of 54 Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Pioneer Areas to have taken part in a nationwide scheme called: Justice Seen, Justice Done. The project was launched by Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, and is backed by Tameside Borough Council and the Greater Manchester Probation Trust (GMPT).

The winning project is in Shaw Road, Royton, which had illegally been used as a dumping site. Residents voted for offenders, supervised by GMPT, to remove the fly tipping and carry out an extensive clear-up.

The project has now been completed. Over four weekends two groups of offenders worked to clear the rubbish.

Offenders will complete all of the projects during the next year.

Chris Oakley, the borough’s Community Payback Manager, said: “It is excellent that residents have taken the time to vote on which projects they want offenders to complete in the area.

“The community is taking an active role in the criminal justice system. Seeing offenders making retribution to the community against which they have offended will help improve people’s understanding of Community Payback.

“These high visibility projects are just a fraction of the work carried out by Community Payback teams across Oldham.”

In each pioneer area, Community Payback units will spend 3,000 hours on a range of projects chosen by the public. It is the first time the public has been encouraged to vote on schemes.

Every year over 55,000 criminals receive Community Payback nationally, carrying out over six million hours of free work on behalf of their communities to payback for their crimes. However, more often than not the public do not know about it or know that they can have a say on what offenders do.


The five schemes are:

Shaw Road, Royton: remove the fly tipping and carry out an extensive clear-up.

Glodwick area, bounded by Waterloo Street / Glodwick Road / Oldham Way. Cut back overgrowth to improve safety.

Failsworth Area: alleyway clearance, including litter pick and cutting back overgrowth.

Coppice Area: remove fly-tipping that had taken place near a row of residential garages.

Clarksfield Area: bounded by  Balfour Street / Esther Street / Clarksfield Road. Alleyway clearance, removal of rubbish and overgrowth.

Vote Results
              
Winner: Shaw Road, Royton
2nd:       Failsworth
3rd:       Glodwick
4th:        Clarksfield
5th:        Copster Hill