Councillors see 'Community Payback' benefits

Councillor Dale Mulgrew offers offenders a helping hand

Councillors visited offenders on Queensway to see for themselves how the latest 'Community Payback' clean-up is progressing.

Over the course of a week offenders spent almost 350 hours litter picking and cutting back overgrowth.

Rochdale Borough Council arranged the site visit to give councillors and community members the opportunity to talk with offenders about the work they have been carrying out and to witness first hand how the community payback scheme can bring about real benefits for the local community.

Local resident, Mohammed Ramzan of Dean Court nominated the area of land between Queensway Stores and The Dicken Green pub for the clean-up and is now a firm supporter of the scheme.

“I would highly recommend that more members of the community take advantage of having work carried out free of charge by offenders. They’ve done a fantastic and professional job, working flat out for 6 days and they were supervised at all times. It makes sense that punishments bring about benefits to the community. My neighbours and I are pleased with the clean up,” said Mr Ramzan.

Dale Mulgrew, cabinet member for community safety at Rochdale Borough Council and local ward councillor said he is also thrilled that the site has undergone such a transformation in such a short space of time. “It is essential that those who create pain and suffering for the community pay a price. I view Community Payback as a constructive punishment and I feel reassured that many more communities are set to benefit from projects like this in the future.

“On a personal note, I know that this stretch of public space has been a concern for many local residents, and the payback team have done a terrific job tidying the area up. ”

Paul Anderson, Community Operations Manager at Greater Manchester Probation Trust, added: ”Communities now have the opportunity to influence the type of work offenders carry out in their neighbourhoods. It also gives offenders the chance to make retribution to Rochdale residents for the crimes they have committed. Remember – anyone can nominate a community payback project in their area."

Nationally over 6 million hours of Community Payback is carried out by offenders each year for free. If paid at the national minimum wage, this work would be valued at £34.5m and otherwise might not be done.

Local charities, community organisations, religious organisations, or anybody that needs working doing can nominate projects for the offenders to complete as part of their rehabilitation process. With the winter months approaching, indoor work in particular would be preferable, such as painting and decorating, or simple repair jobs.

You can nominate a project online at www.gm-probation.org.uk