CRIMINALS will repay their debt to society by cleaning the streets of Weymouth.

Teams of offenders ordered to do unpaid work by the courts as part of their community service will remove graffiti in a new scheme called Wipe Out.

Unpaid work requirements organised by Dorset Probation’s Community Payback Unit sees individuals put to work clearing churchyards, painting fences or serving meals to the elderly.

In Wipe Out, they will give the streets of Weymouth town centre a spring clean with a particular focus on problem graffiti.

The project is funded by the Dorset Community Safety Partnership, which involves Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Dorset Police, Dorset Probation Trust and others.

The organisations say that graffiti is a growing problem and is one of the ‘key drivers of anti-social behaviour.’ Areas daubed with spray paint may look run down and neglected and it makes residents feel unsafe.

The partnership says offenders will repay their debt to society by scrubbing graffiti from streets around the Park District and town centre before concentrating on other areas.

John Morse, new chairman of the Waterside Weymouth Community Forum which works in the Park District, said: “This is a great idea. For a long time now we’ve been asking the council to do something about the graffiti on walls and in the alleyways.

“Getting offenders to do it will give them something to do and save the council money.

“Removing graffiti will help to restore pride in the area.”

He added that a plan was in the pipeline to make boards available in the area so people can practice graffiti, or street art, on those instead of the walls.

Up to eight offenders supervised by Community Payback supervisors will start work this month. They will wear high visibility jackets and will use pressure washers, paint and other chemicals – all environmentally friendly – to remove graffiti.

Alongside project Wipe Out, officers from Dorset Police will tour schools to encourage youngsters to respect their streets and report graffiti.

Borough council community safety spokesman Geoff Petherick said: “This is a great project that will help clean up the streets and spruce up the borough.”

Coun Petherick added: “We are asking the public to report graffiti to us so we can try and get it cleaned up.”

Report graffiti to the Wipe Out team on 01305 226506. It can only be removed if the property owner gives permission.

Dorset Community Safety Partnership has also funded a project to design and paint a mural in the Westham underpass. Residents are invited to have their say on the plans at a meeting on Friday at the Methodist Church hall, Newstead Road from 3pm.