Greater Manchester Probation Trust

Justice Seen, Justice Done – Results Revealed

TAMESIDE residents have had their say on which Community Payback schemes offenders should complete across the borough.

Tameside 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 Smallshaw Fields, Ashton. A total of 70 people voted for offenders, supervised by GMPT, to carry out an extensive litter pick, remove dumped rubbish repair pathways and cut back undergrowth.

The aim is to make the area cleaner and safer place. This project has now been completed.

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

Bob Cadwallader,  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 Tameside.”

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.

Councillor John Taylor, Tameside Council’s head of enforcement, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone on their choice of scheme. Work like this is no easy option and as well as improving the environment it will also allow people to see that justice is being done.”

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:

Ryecroft Hall, Audenshaw
Offenders will repair and re-lay the stone on pathways in the area. They will also need to paint railings, benches and boards.

Smallshaw Fields, Ashton
The fields are blighted by litter and dumped rubbish. Offenders will give them a thorough clean up, repairing the pathways, removing the rubbish and cutting back the undergrowth to make it a cleaner, safer place.

Underwood Rd/Fields Farm Rd, Hattersley
The area is overgrown and full of rubbish. Offenders will be tasked with clearing the litter and cutting back the shrubs, undergrowth and overhanging tree branches.

Garden St. Playing Fields, Newton, Hyde
The playing fields are overgrown and littered with rubbish. This large gardening project will involve offenders cutting back shrubs and trees, picking up litter and clearing all undergrowth from around the field.

Tenter Way Walkway, Stalybridge
This area needs a thorough clean up. Offenders will clear the pathways, remove litter and cut back undergrowth to make it a safer place for residents.

Vote Results

Smallshaw                              70
Underwood                             42
Garden St                                21
Ryecroft                                    14
Tenter Way                              13