Community Payback creating path out of crime

14 May 2013 10:53 AM

Offenders handed down Community Payback Orders for low level offences in West Dunbartonshire have built part of a long distance footpath from the Erskine Bridge to Milngavie.

The path is part of the Firth of Clyde Rotary Trail, a long distance footpath from the Mull of Galloway to Milngavie,  where it will link to the West Highland Way. Both form part of the International Appalachian Trail.

Mr MacAskill said: “It is vital that offenders are punished for the crimes they commit. For low level offenders, the evidence shows that the best way of doing this is through tough manual labour. Three out of five offenders given tough community based sentences do not reoffend, giving them the opportunity to turn their backs on crime and start contributing to society.

“The Scottish Government will not go down the same route as the UK Government, who this week announced an untried and untested privatisation of offender management which has already been widely criticised.

“Projects like this one are undoubtedly ones that work - they provide the chance for low-level offenders to repay communities for the damage they have done and to learn new skills to help them get back into work. I’m also very pleased to hear from the Rotary Club, who are behind this project, of the positive attitude and motivation of the offenders who have carried out this work. I hope they will use it as a springboard to getting their lives back on track.”
 
Dr Iain R White, President of the Rotary Club of Allander, said: “The Rotary Club of Allander thanks the vision of Kenny MacAskill in suggesting that Community Payback could be used to make long distance paths. In Dunbartonshire, the vision was converted to reality by seed funding from Central Scotland Green Network, the fantastic service provided by the Community Payback team at West Dunbartonshire under the inspirational leadership of Bill Freeland and the co-operation of land owners along the route.

"The path is a source of interest and pride to the communities through which it passes. “Walkers, already using the path for long and short journeys, are full of praise for the improvement."

Councillor Gail Casey, Convener of West Dunbartonshire Community Health and Care Partnership said: “We welcome this opportunity to show the Justice Secretary the results of work undertaken by offenders subject to Community Payback Orders.  This project clearly demonstrates the benefits of working in partnership with local organisations to upgrade an amenity which will be of genuine value to the local community and beyond.”

There were 1¾ million hours of unpaid work imposed by Scottish courts last year.