Wiltshire Council and the Probation Service to work in partnership on community payback projects

Following last year's successful partnership, Wiltshire Council and the Probation Service have committed to work together again in 2020 on community payback projects for adult offenders.

In 2019, the partnership saw adult offenders take part in several different community payback schemes, including the maintenance of the five park and rides around Salisbury.

Offenders spent at least 40 hours a week at the sites, undertaking grass cutting, hedge trimming and general maintenance.

Wiltshire Council supplied £2,000 worth of equipment to enable the offenders to carry out the work.

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: Working with the Probation Service has been very successful, and so we are pleased to be able to commit to work with them again this year.

Community payback scheme projects directly benefit Wiltshire communities, and so we are looking forward to continuing this partnership throughout 2020.

The Probation Service supplies people who have been sentenced by a court to carry out unpaid work hours. A person can be sentenced between 40-300 hours, which must be completed within 12 months of the sentence.
 
They are expected to work on projects that directly benefit the community, such as litter picking, graffiti removal, gardening and decorating and can be for the local council, a charity or not for profit projects.
 
The community payback team is looking to secure projects in Wiltshire and welcomes nominations from organisations and the public. For a chat about a proposed project, please contact Paul Wainwright, Community Payback Manager, on paul.wainwright@bgswcrc.probationsservice.co.uk.