Criminals could wear high visibility bibs

Rochdale residents will soon benefit from a new crime reduction scheme launched by the Home Secretary this week.

Rochdale is one of only 60 towns and cities to become a new neighbourhood crime and justice pioneer area.

The pilot scheme will see a new Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinator appointed in Rochdale and could see criminals being forced to wear high visibility bibs so that justice is being seen to be done in local communities.

Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, has welcomed the scheme.

He said: "People are constantly telling me that there needs to be more of a deterrent to stop criminals ruining communities and I agree. I want to see community payback schemes more visible to the general public and more demanding on criminals.”

Rochdale's neighbourhood crime and justice co-ordinator will oversee work projects for offenders convicted at their local courts and help give the public a greater say in the way their streets are policed.

As paid-for posts within local authorities, the new Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinators will work to ensure that Community Payback in the local community is visible and tough, that victims of crime are supported to reduce re-offending, that services and support for victims and witnesses like separate seating arrangements at courts are up to scratch and that the public know the rights that the new national Policing Pledge gives them.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: “The public have told us what they want from policing and the justice system – services that listen and act on their priorities. But sometimes the criminal justice system can feel remote and appear more interested in supporting offenders than punishing them or protecting communities. We are determined to take action on this across Government.

“I am grateful to all of the 60 pioneer areas for signing up to take action to open up the criminal justice system so that the public can see the tough consequences for those that break the law and also drive forward the action needed so that the public know what their rights are from the police and other agencies when they are suffering crime and anti-social behaviour.”