Councillor Alexander Stewart, the Convener of Scrutiny on Perth and Kinross Council, this week raised concerns at the Community Safety Committee regarding Community Payback Orders’ Annual Report.
Councillor Stewart said: “The Community Payback Order has replaced custodial sentences of less than 3 months and includes an unpaid work activity in the community. On paper this seems like a good idea but in reality it is not working. The report highlighted that not all offenders turn up to, or complete their payback orders, which I am disappointed in but not surprised.
This, I believe, is a slap in the face to the victims of crime who expect the Courts and Community Justice to ensure that the punishment fits the crime. The statistic quoted that one third of offenders given a Payback Order fail to complete it is, in my opinion, totally unacceptable.
Payback Orders appear to be an easy option for both the Courts and the offenders and many offenders obviously believe that they can get away with not completing their Order – and they do!
There needs to be much more robust policing of the entire system because obviously it is failing and those who commit crimes need to know that they will be punished and not given an easy way out.
I believe that if this failure rate continues then there should be a complete review of the entire system and how relevant it is in today’s Society.”