JUSTICE should be seen to be done. The sentencing of offenders to Pay-back Community Service as an alternative to time in prison makes sense for many reasons and should be a constructive and positive way of deterring re-offending.
It should also benefit the community by providing a work force to carry out jobs that are unattractive and difficult to get done.
To be an effective alternative to custody, there should be much more use overtly made of Community Pay-back, but, unfortunately, it is rarely, if ever demonstrated.
Litter picks and cleaning graffiti are invariably carried out by volunteers, which is commendable, but there should be regular, frequent use of offenders making significant and visible reparations to society.
I can think of no good reason why this body of potential payers-back should not be set to work on a variety of projects that would benefit the community.
It may be that such work is being undertaken, in some secluded surroundings, as there are many offenders sentenced to Community Pay-back. If so, the public should be aware of the enactment of such orders and the whole enterprise should be much more obvious for all to see.
BILL WHITE
Weymouth
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