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| Offenders to wear community vests | Offenders to wear community vests |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of offenders in England and Wales are to wear high visibility vests while doing community service. | |
| Ministers have ordered 10,000 orange bibs with "Community Payback" on the back identifying them to the public. | Ministers have ordered 10,000 orange bibs with "Community Payback" on the back identifying them to the public. |
| The government hopes the uniforms will increase confidence in community-based punishments which are seen by some as a soft option compared to prison. | The government hopes the uniforms will increase confidence in community-based punishments which are seen by some as a soft option compared to prison. |
| But probation groups warn the vests could "increase the risk" of offenders becoming targets for attacks. | But probation groups warn the vests could "increase the risk" of offenders becoming targets for attacks. |
| The bibs are part of plans aimed at increasing public awareness of the criminal justice system. | The bibs are part of plans aimed at increasing public awareness of the criminal justice system. |
| Justice Minister David Hanson told BBC Five Live: "What I want is the public to know that community sentences are going on in their areas, do work and are doing some very good work as payback for crimes that have been committed." | Justice Minister David Hanson told BBC Five Live: "What I want is the public to know that community sentences are going on in their areas, do work and are doing some very good work as payback for crimes that have been committed." |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| There was evidence that such punishments were more successful in preventing criminals from reoffending, he said. | There was evidence that such punishments were more successful in preventing criminals from reoffending, he said. |
| Government crime adviser Louise Casey said it was important for the public to feel they were being listened to. | Government crime adviser Louise Casey said it was important for the public to feel they were being listened to. |
| She told GMTV: "You have to get your head round the fact, whose side are we on in all of this? Are we on the side of the criminals or are we on the side of the public? | She told GMTV: "You have to get your head round the fact, whose side are we on in all of this? Are we on the side of the criminals or are we on the side of the public? |
| "If we have got to get the public to come forward, give evidence, report crime and feel confident the British justice system is on their side they've got to see consequences for criminals. End of story." | "If we have got to get the public to come forward, give evidence, report crime and feel confident the British justice system is on their side they've got to see consequences for criminals. End of story." |
| 'Compliance problems' | 'Compliance problems' |
| But probation officers have argued against the use of the vests because of fears they could put offenders and staff working with them at risk. | But probation officers have argued against the use of the vests because of fears they could put offenders and staff working with them at risk. |
| Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, told the BBC's Today programme: "Wearing the so-called vests of shame introduces unnecessary risk." | Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, told the BBC's Today programme: "Wearing the so-called vests of shame introduces unnecessary risk." |
| There were already instances where offenders doing community service had been targeted by rival gangs for attack, he said, and in two cases offenders had been shot. | There were already instances where offenders doing community service had been targeted by rival gangs for attack, he said, and in two cases offenders had been shot. |
| He also said there was no evidence that shaming worked and that if offenders were concerned for their safety compliance would drop and cases would end up back in the courts. | He also said there was no evidence that shaming worked and that if offenders were concerned for their safety compliance would drop and cases would end up back in the courts. |
| "The real intention of the vests is to make the government look tougher on crime and to demean the offenders," he added. | "The real intention of the vests is to make the government look tougher on crime and to demean the offenders," he added. |
| The Ministry of Justice said if there were concerns for the safety of staff or offenders in particular cases consideration would be given to whether the jackets were appropriate. | The Ministry of Justice said if there were concerns for the safety of staff or offenders in particular cases consideration would be given to whether the jackets were appropriate. |