Public have their say on how criminals payback in Newcastle 30 March 2009
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Residents of Newcastle are invited to have their say on how justice is done in the city as part of a Community Payback campaign launched by community safety partnership Safe Newcastle today. Working in partnership with Northumbria Probation, the campaign encourages residents to vote for what Community Payback projects should be carried out as a punishment for offenders in their local area. Offenders on community orders will work unpaid, supervised by the probation service, to payback to their local community. The month-long campaign means your vote will ensure that these offenders do the work you want to see done. 
‘Justice Seen Justice Done’ is a government campaign to put the law abiding public first in policing and justice, and ensure that offenders face tough consequences and pay something back to their communities. Newcastle is one of 54 pioneer areas across the country to take part and means that the public can now, more than ever, see justice being done.
The project with the most votes will be the area which offenders on community payback are sent to clean up first. Five locations in Newcastle have been selected for voting:
Project 1: Blakelaw Park. A large park with tennis and basketball courts, skateboarding and play areas. Constant maintenance is required – clearing litter, removing graffiti, pruning overgrown areas, renovating footpaths, repairing fencing and planting new shrubs and bushes.
Project 2: Bluebell Dene. An open space well used by the local community and home to a large amount of wildlife including woodpeckers, sparrow hawks and even deer. Offenders will cut back overgrown trees, maintain footpaths, clear litter and erect bat and bird boxes.
Project 3: Exhibition Park. Croquet lawns, tennis courts, a playground, skatepark and boating lake make this park hugely popular with locals. A Community Payback scheme would include repainting old and worn railings, fencing and benches, clearing litter, pruning undergrowth and trees.
Project 4: Fawdon Park. Blighted by anti-social behaviour and vandalism, a Community Payback project will make the area safer for local residents, undertaking a major clear up, disposing of discarded bottles and cans, cleaning away graffiti and cutting back vegetation.
Project 5: North Kenton Park. This large park has great sports facilities including tennis courts and an all weather football pitch, as well as children’s play and picnic areas. A Community Payback scheme would remove graffiti, litter, and repaint the walls and street furniture.
Chair of Safe Newcastle, Cllr Anita Lower said: “"Residents of Newcastle want to have their say on how criminals payback their crimes to their community which is the driving force behind this campaign.
"Safe Newcastle selected the five parks for Community Payback as they are tough and demanding jobs and will give back residents safe, clean and pleasant parks for children, families and communities to enjoy."
Community Payback gives offenders a chance to payback to their local communities by doing work which helps to improve and enhance the environment. It does not replace paid employment but compliments work carried out by Newcastle City Council. The work is unpaid and forms part of their Community Order supervised by Northumbria Probation Area.
Martyn Strike, Head of Interventions, Northumbria Probation Area, said: “Community Payback is a really important sentence. It punishes the offender by requiring them to complete demanding physical work unpaid, it benefits local communities through the work which is done and it assists with the offenders’ rehabilitation by teaching them new skills. This campaign takes Community Payback to a new level, by ensuring local people decide on the work which is completed.”
How to voteVoting is simple. You can call, email or vote online.
Telephone: 0191 277 7832
Email: communitypayback@newcastle.gov.ukOnline:www.safenewcastle.org.uk/communitypayback www.direct.gov.uk/communitypayback
www.northumbriaprobation.co.uk/community/communitypayback/justiceseenjusticedone
Voting closes 24 April 2009. The winning project will be announced in June.
Newcastle was named as one of 60 Pioneer Areas by the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, in November. The Pioneer Area initiative aims to give the public a greater say on how their streets are policed and how offenders are dealt with. Cllr Lower added: "Our partners in Safe Newcastle are proud to be a Pioneer Area and of our commitment to ensuring that victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour and crime are supported, that Community Payback is tough and visible and that there is tough consequences for those who break the law so that Newcastle is great city to live, visit and work
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