community payback orders – The NEN

Additional £10 million budget funding for community justice

Reconviction rate after Community Payback lower than short term sentences

The success of community-based sentences in reducing reoffending and paying back to society has been highlighted by Justice Secretary Angela Constance following the recently announced extra funding for alternatives to custody.

The Justice Secretary visited Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust in Dalkeith where people carrying out unpaid work while serving a Community Payback Order (CPO) transformed the garden from wasteland and refurbished the café, which now uses fresh produce grown on site.

In addition to local community benefit from unpaid work, latest statistics show the reconviction rate for people sentenced to undertake CPOs is 28.4%, compared to 52.6% for those completing short prison sentences of one year or less .

Scotland’s overall reconviction rate of 27.1% is the fourth lowest on record in 25 years, with the average number of reconvictions per offender falling 14% over the past decade.

The Scottish Government is investing around £169 million in community justice services in 2026-27, including an additional £10 million to support diversion from prosecution, alternatives to remand, community sentencing and throughcare services.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “It was great to see first-hand the fantastic work at Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust, where the garden and café are brilliant examples of how community sentences create real, lasting benefits for local communities.

“The evidence is clear: community-based sentences are more effective than short prison sentences at reducing reoffending, contributing to fewer victims and safer communities. The recently-published Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission’s report echoed this view in some of its recommendations and the need to shift the balance to community justice.

“Community Payback Orders allow us to tailor support to individual circumstances, addressing the underlying causes of offending while ensuring people make amends to their communities. The Scottish Government’s continued investment in community justice reflects our commitment to shifting the balance from custody to community, giving people the best chance to turn their lives around while keeping people safe.”

Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust manager, Sharon Hill, said: “Our work with the Community Payback Team helps us by giving us access to folks who can help us in a really practical way – whether that be by building, painting, moving or digging.

“The Community Payback Team benefit from seeing the positive impact of what they have done. It can give a sense of pride and purpose to everyone involved.”

As of 2nd February, there were 562 prisoners with overall sentences of 12 months or less 7% of the prison population. In 2023-24, 73% of short term sentences (under 4 years) imposed were for 12 months or less and 15% under 24 months.

Digging in to develop a community garden in Morningside

People carrying out unpaid work as part of a community sentence have been helping to develop an NHS community garden in Morningside.

The City of Edinburgh Council’s justice services have teamed up with the Cyrenians charity so that people carrying out a community payback order (CPO) can learn how to care for the garden.

Councillor Tim Pogson, Chair of Edinburgh’s Community Safety and Justice Partnership, said: “We have been exploring innovative ways to support those who have committed offences to repay the community for their crimes while at the same time, giving participants the opportunity to learn valuable skills and work as part of a team.

“Through joining forces with the Scottish charity Cyrenians we’ve been able to support the environment through the development of a community garden project offering placements to people completing unpaid work as part of a CPO.”

Cyrenians delivers the project in a supportive environment, delivering learning, while providing help to those on the project to access additional supports they may need to be reintegrated into their community and become contributing members of society.

The project has proved to be a great success with participants saying how working in the garden had improved their mental health and led to a renewed appreciation of the outdoors. Many have enjoyed contributing to a wider project team while being supported by Cyrenians through a low point in their lives to move on from their crime to a more positive space and a crime-free life.

A supervised team of people work together on the garden woodland and orchard, including landscaping, planting, pruning and composting. Participants learn how to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers and develop skills in making garden furniture.

Hannah Macrae, Community Gardens Service Manager at Cyrenians, said: “We have loved working in partnership with community justice services, to offer placements to people completing a community payback order.

“Our community gardens provide a lot of solace to people and we are very grateful to those who have come on placement for all their efforts to maintain and improve this special space. Many of the people who come really enjoy the time working in the garden and we hope that they take away a new set of skills and a sense of pride in what they have achieved.”

A number of areas across Edinburgh have been transformed by people carrying out a CPO and previous projects have included fencing and decking work at Dr Neil’s Garden in Duddingston and supporting garden maintenance at Inverleith Park.

More than 11.6 million hours of unpaid work have been completed across Scotland since CPOs were introduced in 2010 – with around 1.4 million hours recorded benefiting communities for the reporting year 2023-24. There were 15,086 CPOs imposed by the courts – a three per cent increase on the previous year.

There are various projects highlighted in the new annual CPO report 2023-24 by Community Justice Scotland. It shows that the number of CPOs imposed has increased and how people have been held to account and supported to reconnect and contribute to their communities.

Catherine Dyer, chair of the board of Community Justice Scotland, said: “Community payback orders allow people to repay locally for the harm they’ve caused and access support to services, such as addiction counselling, to tackle the behaviour which led to their offending.

“The increase in the number of CPOs imposed by courts shows the confidence of Sheriffs in community-based sentences which can help reduce the risk of reoffending compared to short-term imprisonment.

“Unpaid work has transformed areas across the country, making a meaningful impact on communities such as improving school playgrounds, painting and gardening for local organisations as well as helping individuals who need work done.”

Edinburgh is seeking the public’s views on unpaid work and suggestions for new projects. You can complete the short survey online here at the City of Edinburgh Council’s website (until 8 September 2025).

Edinburgh residents encouraged to share views on Community Payback Orders as consultation opens

With over 46,000 hours of unpaid work time carried out in Edinburgh in the year 2024-25, residents are being asked to share their views on Community Payback Orders (CPO).

CPOs are given by the Court to people to pay for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence, with local communities putting forward ideas to their local authority for the unpaid work carried out where they live.

Edinburgh residents are now being encouraged to feed back on the unpaid work that has been carried out in their area and how it has helped the local community. There is also the chance to suggest local community groups or projects that could benefit from unpaid work.

CPOs were set up in 2011 by the Scottish Government as a replacement for community service.

Examples of unpaid work include:

· developing and maintaining children’s play areas

· recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture.

· cleaning beaches, graffiti, litter

We welcome views on the effectiveness of Community Payback Orders as a way to reduce re-offending and we want to know:

· Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?

· Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?

· Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?

· Recommendations for groups, residents, organisations or projects that may benefit from unpaid work,

Councillor Tim Pogson, Chair of Edinburgh Community Safety and Justice Partnership, said: “Community Payback Orders offer a positive alternative to a prison sentence for many people convicted of a criminal offence providing them with the opportunity to serve their sentence in a way that benefits local communities through unpaid work.

“CPOs support participants to learn new skills, gain confidence, and work as part of a team, whilst making a difference in their own life and the lives of those around them

“In Edinburgh we have several successful projects underway which enable CPOs to be completed, including community clear ups, repainting community centres and the ‘Brake the Cycle’ scheme, which involves individuals undertaking CPOs repairing bikes for reuse as part of community projects.

“I would encourage local Edinburgh residents to engage with the consultation and share their views to help shape CPO unpaid work in the City.”

Council wants to hear your views on Community Payback Orders

Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on Community Payback Orders (CPO) which are given by the Court to people to pay for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence.

In particular, we would like to know what you think about the unpaid work part of a CPO which replaced community service in 2011. This is when an individual who has committed an offence does unpaid work in the community.

Examples of unpaid work include:

repairing and reinstating headstones in local cemeteries
developing and maintaining children’s play areas
recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture.

We are seeking your views on the effectiveness of community payback as a way to reduce re-offending and we want to know:

Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?
Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?
Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?

As well as using the questionnaire to comment on community payback you can also recommend groups, residents, organisations or projects that may benefit from unpaid work through the online suggestion form.

Councillor Tim Pogson, Chair of Edinburgh Community Safety and Justice Partnership, said: “Community Payback Orders offer a robust alternative to a prison sentence and allow people to pay back for their crimes through doing unpaid work in the community.

“We are always keen to develop unpaid work opportunities in the capital and the views of our citizens are crucial to this process.

“Past examples of unpaid work include community clear ups, repainting community centres and the ‘Brake the Cycle’ scheme, whereby individuals undertaking CPOs have repaired bicycles for reuse as part of community projects.

“CPOs support participants to learn new skills and gain confidence in themselves and their wider community, all of which contributes to reducing reoffending.

“Through this consultation we want to open up discussion with communities about unpaid work opportunities which is key to properly understanding how CPOs help not only the individuals undertaking unpaid work, but the tangible benefits these bring to communities across our capital city.”

This consultation is open until Monday 9 Sept 2024.

Budget funding to cut reoffending and reduce victim numbers

A total of £148 million will be invested in community justice services next year to help reduce reoffending so there are fewer victims of crime.

The funding in the draft 2024-25 Budget includes an additional £14 million to encourage wider use of robust community-based interventions where appropriate.

Evidence shows such interventions, including Community Payback Orders and Structure Deferred Sentences, can be more effective than short-term imprisonment at reducing reoffending and assisting with rehabilitation.

The £148 million will be distributed across a range a range of community justice partners, including local authority justice social work services and third-sector organisations.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Protecting the public and delivering safe communities is my absolute priority.

“This significant investment in community justice will support organisations to work together to ensure that people who have offended address the underlying causes of their behaviour and pay back to the community where appropriate. This aims to encourage rehabilitation, reduce reoffending, and protect the public, leading to fewer victims and safer communities.

“While prison is needed for those who pose a risk to public safety, evidence shows that community-based interventions and sentences can be more effective in reducing reoffending than short-term custodial sentences, while robustly managing risk.

“This funding is part of our overall £3.8 billion Budget investment in justice for 2024-25 which will support policing and other frontline services and help to deliver a safe, secure and resilient country.”

Community Justice: Unpaid workers give back at Christmas

Teams serving community payback orders (CPOs) have been making Christmas wreaths for sale to support people’s mental health over the festive season.

Unpaid workers in Fife have been raising money for mental health charity the Samaritans through the sale of wreaths made from foraged local materials.

Justice Secretary Keith Brown welcomed the initiative as demonstrating the positive impact that CPOs can have not only for people with convictions, but for their wider local communities in the run up to Christmas.

He said: “This is a time of year when people’s mental health can be more greatly impacted and it’s good to see this recognised in the work carried out by people on community payback orders.

“Of course many people in the justice system struggle with mental health problems, so it is particularly heartening to see the active contributions that this group of unpaid workers have been making to their community – and to charity.

“Community sentences, with supervision and other conditions where necessary, add structure and help people make the positive changes needed to tackle the causes of their behaviour.

“Our reforms to community-based sentences, in particular as an alternative to short spells in prison for less serious offences, is a key element of Scotland’s modern justice system – which in recent years has seen record low reconviction rates that in turn help keep crime down and communities safe, with fewer victims.”

Fife Council’s service manager Lisa McCran said: “This project is a great example of how our service users can help raise funds for a local charity and give something back to the community through unpaid work.

“Unfortunately, for some service users poor mental health is not uncommon, so this was also an opportunity to give back to those organisations who give help and support locally and nationally.”

Community Justice Scotland chief executive, Karyn McCluskey, said: “Communities in Scotland have benefitted from more than 8 million hours of unpaid work since 2011. This has led to extraordinary change across the country.

“Crime is reducing and organisations and people across Scotland are making a difference day in day out. We know we have more to do, but we have shown great change is possible if we work together and strive for a safer society with wellbeing for all.”

Council consultation: Have your say on Community Payback Orders

The city council wants to know your thoughts on Community Payback Orders (CPO). These alternatives to custodial sentences are given out by the Court as a way for people to pay for their crimes.

In particular, it wants to know what you think about the unpaid work part of a CPO, which replaced community service in 2011. This is when an individual who has committed an offence does unpaid work within the community.

Below are some of the key questions:

Have you experienced people doing unpaid work in your community?
Do you believe unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for their offences?
Do you have any thoughts about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support by individuals completing CPOs?

These questions and a desire to improve service delivery is why the city council has launched it’s annual consultation in line with their commitments to the Scottish Government.

Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Committee Convener, said: “We are taking a dynamic and evaluative approach to Community Payback Orders and the views of our citizens are crucial to this process.

“One major goal of the consultation is to find new areas and opportunities in the capital for unpaid work to be undertaken. Past examples of this work include community clear-ups, repainting community centres and the ‘Brake The Cycle’ scheme, wherein individuals serving CPOs are involved in renovating bicycles, learning new skills and gaining confidence in themselves and their wider community.

“These along with other activities allow key organisations such as charities to receive support whilst simultaneously allowing individuals serving CPOs to give back to their communities.

“Through this consultation and collection of information we want to promote more discussion with communities about unpaid work opportunities. These processes are key to properly understanding how CPOs help not only the individuals serving them in terms of reoffending, but the tangible benefits these brings to communities across our capital city.”

This consultation is open now and will run until 25 September 2022.

Have your say on Community Payback Orders

Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on Community Payback Orders (CPO) which are given out by the Court to people to pay for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence.

In particular, the city council would like to know what you think about the unpaid work part of a CPO which replaced community service in 2011. This is when an individual who has committed an offence does unpaid work in the community.

Examples of unpaid work include:

repairing and reinstating headstones in local cemeteries
developing and maintaining children’s play areas
recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture

The council is seeking your views on the effectiveness of community payback as a way to reduce re-offending and wants to know:

Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?
Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?
Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Vice Convener of Culture and Communities, said: “We want to hear from the people of Edinburgh about their views on Community Payback Orders, and the work carried out by the people subject to them.

“Through our consultation we also hope to identify more opportunities in the Capital for unpaid community work to be carried out. This work could include community clear ups, repainting community centres or recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture.

“They are an excellent way for organisations such as charities to get practical help, and they give people who commit offences the chance to pay back to communities and develop new skills.

The information we collect will help us to improve how we work with communities and help to increase understanding of CPOs and their importance in helping people reintegrate into society and reduce the likelihood of them reoffending.”

The consultation runs until Wednesday 30 June.

Community Payback Orders – Tell us your views

Edinburgh residents are being asked to share their views on a scheme that requires people who have committed offences to carry out unpaid work in the community as part of their sentence.

Community Payback Orders can be imposed on people who have committed offences by the courts as an alternative to a short term prison sentence, and can last between six months and three years. They give those involved the chance to address their behaviour and also to repay communities by carrying out unpaid work.

The Council administers the scheme in the city and is seeking the views of the public on people who have committed offences working in communities and the effectiveness of community payback as a way to reduce re-offending.

Examples of unpaid work carried out by the scheme include:

repairing and reinstating headstones in local cemeteries
developing and maintaining children’s play areas
recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture

As well as using the questionnaire to comment on the community payback scheme, participants can also recommend groups, residents, organisations or projects that may benefit from unpaid work through the online suggestion form.

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Vice Convener of Culture and Communities said: “We’re really keen to hear what people think about Community Payback Orders, and the work carried out by the people subject to them.

“One of the aims of the consultation is also to identify more opportunities in Edinburgh for unpaid community work to be carried out. This work could include repainting community centres, community clear ups or recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture. They are an excellent way for organisations such as charities to get practical help, and they give people who commit offences the chance to repay communities for their offences.

“The information we collect will help us to improve how we work with communities and help to increase understanding of CPOs and their importance in helping people reintegrate into society and reduce the likelihood of them reoffending.”

The consultation will run until Monday 31 August.

Council seeks your views on Community Payback Orders

Edinburgh residents are being asked to comment on a scheme that requires offenders to carry out unpaid work in the community as part of their sentence.

Community Payback Orders can be imposed on offenders by the courts as an alternative to a short prison term, and can last between six months and three years. They give those involved the chance to address their behaviour and also to repay communities by carrying out unpaid work.

The public consultation has been launched by the City of Edinburgh Council, which administers the scheme in the city. Views are being sought on offenders working in communities and the effectiveness of community payback as a way to reduce re-offending.

Examples of unpaid work carried out by the scheme include:

Refurbishing rundown gravestones, including a memorial in Craigmillar to an abandoned baby;
Maintaining the Vat Run mountain bike trail in South Queensferry;
Clearing overgrown paths in Figgate Park;
Building and filling flower planters for the Queen’s Baton route.

As well as using the questionnaire to comment on the community payback scheme, individuals and community groups can also recommend projects that may benefit from unpaid work through the online suggestion form.

All local authorities are legally required to carry out an annual consultation on the unpaid work aspect of community payback orders.

Community Safety Leader, Councillor Cammy Day, said: “We’re really keen to hear what people think about community payback orders, and the work carried out by the people subject to them.

“They are an excellent way for organisations such as charities to get practical help, and they give offenders the chance to repay communities for their offences.”