Listen
Offenders help out during icy weather
07/01/2010
Offenders on community service schemes in Fife have been clearing snow and ice from the pavements of a sheltered housing complex.
Fife Council's Social Work Services moved quickly at the start of the cold spell to switch the offenders' usual community clean up work to the more immediate need of helping the vulnerable in their communities.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill visited the complex. He said:
"This is a great example of a council responding quickly during this unprecedented cold spell. They immediately put their community service squads to work clearing the pavements around the homes of the elderly before Christmas.
"The offenders would normally have been doing gardening work or roadside clean ups but this work is clearly a more relevant way to pay back to their community in the current situation.
"I know this work is being replicated across the country. For example, in Glasgow, North and South Ayrshire, Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway and Highland, squads have been clearing pavements around hospitals, schools and elderly homes.
"In Falkirk, offenders have been helping deliver essential service to the elderly and in Lanarkshire they are helping ensure delivery of aids and adaptation equipment goes ahead.
"As the freezing conditions continue, it is important that we all play a part in pulling together and looking out for those in need. We are already seeing some great examples of this with the various community service schemes including the work being done in Fife."
Work is allocated at a local level and changes on a daily basis, but there are hundreds of offenders being used to help ease the consequences of the recent weather across Scotland.
Here are some examples of the kind of work going on across the eight Community Justice Authorities (CJAs) which cover all local authorities in Scotland.
Fife & Forth Valley CJA
Prior to Christmas Community service in Falkirk have been gritting pavements. In particular they have concentrated on areas around older people's homes and sheltered housing.
Fife Council Social Work Criminal Justice Services, Community Service (Payback) have begun to help with gritting, clearing snow and ice from footpaths around Fife. Initially the project commenced on December 23rd in the Cupar and North East Fife area and over recent days this has been repeated across Fife.
Glasgow CJA
In partnership with Glasgow City Council Land and Environmental Services and the Social Work department, GCSS has deployed a number of ommunity service clients to 4 depots across the city to clear snow and ice from pavements in priority areas (hospital entrances, post office areas, elderly homes and schools). Squads of between 50 and 60 clients will be deployed on a daily basis for the foreseeable future until areas are cleared.
CS clients working with the Greater Easterhouse Regeneration Agency (GERA) have been involved in clearing/gritting paths in their area which include all local Daycare Centres for older and vulnerable people.
In the West of the City, Yoker Resource Centre had offenders clearing the paths into the Daycare Unit for older and vulnerable people, which is next to the Resource Centre.
Lanarkshire CJA
The local authority in North Lanarkshire have been doing a significant amount of work with their corporate colleagues to ensure they are targeting the most vulnerable areas including helping to get the vans out to make delivery of aids and adaptation equipment to help disabled clients cope with everyday life.
Lothian & Borders CJA
CS will be available on Saturday (and subsequent days as required) to clear paths and lay salt.
North Strathclyde CJA
Inverclyde Community Service gardening squad have been involved in clearing pathways and drives for the elderly, churches, voluntary organisations and will continue to do so over current cold snap.
South West Scotland CJA
North Ayrshire Council Community Service have been gritting/snow shovelling on roads and pavements in areas used by older people.
South Ayrshire Council Community Service also have squads out clearing snow at locations where there are vulnerable members of the public e.g. residential homes and sheltered housing complexes. This work will be ongoing while the cold weather persists.
Tayside CJA
Angus Community Service Teams have been clearing snow etc, primarily around elderly homes etc. They are also responding to individual requests through the Council's 'ACCESS' line, again with a priority on assisting the elderly etc. There are approximately 35 offenders involved each week.
Northern CJA
Work parties have been clearing paths and spreading grit at the following establishments Quarry Family Centre, Williamson Family Centre, Aberlour Trust Auchenyell Project, Kaim Court and Powis Community Centre. The following sheltered housing complexes Lewis Court, Taransay Court, Short Loanings, Hilton Court, Stewart Park Court, Ashgrove court, Dominies Court, Stocket Grange, Gray Court.