Convicts given late starts due to methadone dose

Drug addicts on community payback orders complained about 9am shift

Criminals on community payback orders are clocking on later to allow drug addicts to get their dose of methadone.

The day shift for unpaid work in Fife now starts at 9.45am after offenders told by judges to atone for their crimes by working in the community complained the 9am start interfered with their lives.

The orders, which are a direct alternative to prison sentences, are regarded by some as soft touch justice.

Fife Council’s criminal justice service social work team said the new shifts had already reduced absence rates.

But it was also revealed a third of offenders failed to turn up to complete their community work.

Liberal Democrat councillor Bill Porteous said: “That is quite simply unacceptable.”

Community payback team manager Ryan McCallum said: “Some of our clients found it difficult to make the 9am starts for a range of reasons including school drop-off commitments and early morning chemist appointments.”

Some of our clients found it difficult to make the 9am starts for a range of reasons, including school drop-off commitments and early morning chemist appointments. RYAN MCCALLUM

Offenders sentenced to carry out unpaid work are starting later so drug addicts can pick up methadone prescriptions.

Those sentenced to unpaid work in Fife had previously started their day at 9am.

However, as some were failing to turn up on time the day-shift squads now report for duty at 9.45am.

It was revealed the time change was made due to issues some offenders had with getting their children to school or getting their dose of methadone from their local pharmacy.

It is claimed the later start has improved attendance.

Community payback order team manager Ryan McCallum said: “We looked at how other local authorities worked and altered the weekday shift times in an attempt to improve the attendance rate and make the service run more efficiently.

“Some of our clients found it difficult to make the 9am starts for a range of reasons, including school drop-off commitments and early morning chemist appointments. We’re pleased that moving to a 9.45am start has not only improved attendance at the weekday daytime shifts but also the daily preparation work that our staff are required to carry out for the running of the service.”

As councillors in north-east Fife were given an update on the service delivered by Fife Council’s criminal justice social work team, they also heard that up to one-third of offenders failed to turn up.

Liberal Democrat councillor Bill Porteous said: “That is quite simply unacceptable.

“With Scottish Government policy and Lib Dem policy to reduce the number of criminals sentenced to short terms in prison once found guilty, it is imperative that the alternative of community payback works.”

Last year more than 1,000 orders with an unpaid work requirement were imposed on offenders in Fife, the majority on men.

Just over 100,000 hours were completed during the year which, based on the living wage of £7.50 an hour, equated to more than £750,000-worth of labour for communities across Fife.

The report to the council’s north-east Fife area committee said that positive work was being conducted by squads across Fife.

Recent projects include repainting of classrooms and offices at Kirkcaldy North Primary School and work at the underpass at Raeburn Heights in Glenrothes.