Tag: CPOs

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 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.