Offenders pay back Inverness community with riverside works

The riverside amenity of the River Ness, in Inverness is receiving a spruce-up thanks to works organised by the Criminal Justice Service and carried out under a Community Payback Order.

A group of offenders have recently been cleaning and painting railings along the banks of the River Ness, which are out with the works programme and budget of The Highland Council.

The works include scraping, sanding, undercoating and painting railings along the east and west sides of the river from Ness Bridge to Ness Islands and Bught Park.

Works have been progressing at a pace and will continue as resources and fair weather permit.

Welcoming the works, Councillor Drew Millar, Chair of The Highland Council’s Education, Children and Adult Services Committee said: “This constructive use of Community Payback not only provides visual benefit and positive improvements to the local community but it helps to increase offenders’ skills base and reduce their chances of re-offending.”

Provost Helen Carmichael added: “Highland Council’s Criminal Justice Team in the Care and Learning Service are working with Community Services and local Ward Managers to facilitate these excellent works that would otherwise not have taken place as they are out with the scope of the council’s maintenance programmes.

“Because of the clear community benefit of this project, the Inverness Common Good Fund is supporting the works with £2,000 funding for materials including brushes, paints and safety equipment.”

Community Payback Orders came into force in Scotland in February 2011 and replaced Community Service Orders, Probation Orders and Supervised Attendance Orders. The Community Payback Order includes a requirement to carry out unpaid work in the community with benefits for the community.