Payback time - Tell us where you think offender teams in Dewsbury and Mirfield should be put to work

Teams of offenders are standing by to tackle a whole range of projects – from litter-picking and renovating footpaths to painting and decorating – perhaps even a spot of snow clearing! Scores of jobs have already been done.

But police and Probation Service want to see maximum take-up by the public, community groups, churches etc.

And the Reporter is helping make this possible by publishing a special coupon people can fill in to nominate a particular scheme that would benefit their community.

It could be clearing a cemetery, sprucing up a church building or some kind of conservation effort. The offender teams can even be deployed on council business.

Called Community Payback, the scheme sees offenders do compulsory hours of work as part of their sentence.

Since April alone, supervised teams have put in nearly 47,000 hours of labour in Kirklees. And police see this as crucial in these times of budget cutbacks and belt-tightening.

Insp Steve Forrest, crime and justice co-ordinator for Kirklees, said: “It is a tough punishment which is creating a free labour force for the community. And that has to be a good thing.”

West Yorkshire Probation, which oversees the scheme, wants suggestions for work which can be done by the teams. Their remit is extensive, but there are restrictions in certain areas. For instance, work can’t be done for an individual. It has to be of benefit to the community at large.

So, if your community has a project crying out for action, then Christmas could come early, with a special gift for all.

Pick up a copy of this week’s Reporter - out today - for full details.