More than 50k payback order hours completed

DESPITE disruption caused by pandemic restrictions, offenders serving community payback orders in North Lanarkshire were able to complete more than 50,000 hours of unpaid work.

In her annual report on the topic, Alison Gordon, head of justice social work services at North Lanarkshire Council, reported to members of the education committee that although the number of hours worked was lower than before the pandemic, a shift towards types of work which could be done at home had proven successful.

The nature of work carried out under community payback orders is diverse and many examples were provided in the report.

The Restorative Justice bicycle workshop remained in operation and distributed more than 200 free bikes to residents. The workshop restores bikes collected from recycling centres and also provides maintenance and repair services.

The restored bikes are given to people lacking the means to buy or repair bikes or have had theirs stolen. The total number of hours worked was just over 1000.

The wood workshop produced equipment for schools and sheltered housing complexes, while the laundry workshop supported local school uniform banks.

Craft items were made for sale at fayres while groups carried out landscaping work and others worked at churches, allotments and sheltered housing complexes.

Those working at home produced more than 150 rugs which were donated to the animal charities and food banks, more than 200 bird and bat boxes have been distributed and plaques were made and displayed in prominent places.

Meanwhile offenders cleared snow from paths and driveways, distributed food parcels, vouchers and toys, picked litter and maintained allotments in Wishaw and Coatbridge.

The council also provides various support measures designed to help offenders change their ways and find work, such as the UP2U Family practice scheme which is designed to challenge domestic violence.

The council is considering setting up a special Twitter account to highlight the work done within its restorative justice programme.

The committee endorsed the approach described in the report.