76 YEARS of work for criminals in Scotland unfinished

MORE than 650,000 hours of community sentence work handed out to criminals has not been completed, figures have revealed.

The equivalent of 76 years of unpaid work has not yet been carried out despite sentences handed down by Scotland’s courts.

The reliance on community payback orders has grown as SNP ministers seek to end prison sentences of 12 months or fewer.

But figures from 29 of Scotland’s 32 councils show that 669,838 hours of unpaid community sentence work has yet to be carried out.

It has led to concerns that dangerous criminals are managing to escape consequences for their crimes.

Among the community sentences work taking place, some criminals have been asked to make bird tables and bee hotels.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘This is an absolutely shocking figure that is caused in part by the SNP’s

‘Making a mockery of victims’ suffering’

obsession with emptying Scotland’s prisons and dishing out community sentences instead.

‘It is bad enough that rapists and domestic abusers are being handed community sentences to begin with, but the fact that the equivalent of 76 years’ worth of unpaid work is outstanding will stun victims of crime.

‘And some of the activities that criminals are assigned make a mockery of the suffering that they have put their victims through. Making bird tables or bee hotels is not an appropriate punishment for some of the horrific crimes these criminals have committed.

‘Scottish Conservative councillors will ensure criminals are made to carry out proper punishments as part of their community sentences.’

Among the community payback unpaid work taking place, criminals in Dumfries and Galloway have had to complete health and safety training, while some have built bird tables in Glasgow and bee hotels in Renfrewshire.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The justice system has continued to operate effectively despite the challenges of the pandemic and those on community orders will still serve the majority of their sentences.’