Pendle offenders complete more than 10,000 hours in community payback (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Pendle offenders complete more than 10,000 hours in community payback

8:00pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Pendle

OFFENDERS in Pendle have completed more than 10,000 hours of community payback in the last 10 months.

And now, as more work is set to be completed, community payback organisers are asking the public to suggest projects for offenders to complete.

All project suggestions must be for public, charity or non-profit community benefit.

Community payback practice manager Lorraine Slater said: “All the projects completed by offenders combine hard work and the chance for offenders to develop important life skills.

“They help to reduce the risk of re-offending, making our communities safer.”

Since Pendle Council joined forces with Lancashire Probation Trust in January, offenders have been working with the Neighbourhood Pride teams to clean up grot spots in Brierfield, Nelson and Colne.

Coun James Starkie said: “Community payback is an innovative way of making offenders pay back for the crimes they’ve committed.

“And the benefits are real.”

To suggest a project visit www.lancashireprobation.co.uk