Community Payback
What is Community Payback?
Community Payback is a sentence handed out by the court where
the offenders are ordered by the court to complete between 40 and
300 hours of unpaid work. This unskilled work can include repairing
and redecorating community centres and other buildings, clearing
public land and projects or work that improve areas to the benefit
of the community. In general, Community Payback is given to low and
medium risk offenders. It is not suitable for high risk offenders.
All offenders are carefully assessed before they are allocated to
work projects to ensure the safety of the public.
Any requests for work to be completed by Community Payback will
initially be risk assessed by Kent Probation who will have the
final decision on whether or not they will undertake the work. Kent
Probation will inform DDC of their decision and a timescale if the
work is taken on.
Overview
Include brief details of the nature of the work, the aims and
who the ultimate beneficiary will be. Also include any DDC and/or
community input to the project along with a list of equipment
needed to complete the project. It is expected that materials and
equipment will be provided by the person or agency applying for
Community Payback Services. The applicant must state who will be
responsible for this.
Work not normally done by anyone in paid employment
Community Payback will only take on work for which there is no
funding available or which would not otherwise be completed,
subject to the overriding proviso that such work must be to the
benefit of the local community.
Supervision
Projects to be supervised by the Probation Service are put on a
waiting list. However, if you are able to provide supervision then
the project will proceed much more quickly. This option is
appropriate where there are a low number of offenders involved. No
training is required although Kent Probation will brief any
supervisors provided.
Materials Required
Work providers will be expected to provide tools, equipment and
materials at their own cost for the project. Kent Probation will
provide personal protective equipment where necessary, including
footwear. They will also assess the tools, equipment and materials
provided as being safe for the intended use on the project. No
other materials are to be used.
Attach photos of the area and the work required to be done. It
will assist the decision making process if digital photographs are
attached clearly showing the nature of the work to be undertaken.
Where appropriate, these photographs will also be used in any
relevant publicity and therefore effort should be made to ensure
that people, especially children, are not in the photographs.
If after reading these notes you still have questions please
contact Christopher Allen or Margaret Sharp on 01304 872163 or via
email at csu@dover.gov.uk.
Update for the District
In the last 12 months offenders on
Community Payback undertook 272,136 hours of work in
Kent, including making vast improvements to community
facilities, the environment, public buildings, open spaces and
local neighbourhoods. Community Payback is one of the 12
requirements of a community order which can include other
punishments such as a curfew with rehabilitation such as drugs and
alcohol treatment.
Offenders also cleared rubbish, debris
and litter from the beach in Deal. More than 11 bags of rubbish
were collected by a team of around 5 offenders on Community
Payback.
Dover District Community Safety Unit
continues to work with Kent Probation to nominate projects. A
recent project was nominated by a St Margaret’s resident, and
involved the clearing of overgrown paths in the St
Margaret’s/Kingsdown area. Further work was carried out near the
Sandwich Toll Bridge where
offenders sanded and painted the
railings.
Application
Once completed please send your application
to:
Email: csu@dover.gov.uk
Post: Community Safety Unit, Dover District
Council, White Cliffs Business Park, Dover CT16 3PJ
The Community Safety Manager, along with the Property Services
Manager and the Community Safety Co-ordinator, will consider
applications prior to liaising with the Probation Service.
Contact
Email: csu@dover.gov.uk
Tel: 01304 872163
