Offenders help clear public spaces in Northamptonshire village as part of 'immediate justice' scheme
Offenders have helped to clear public spaces in Brigstock as part of a scheme designed to show there are consequences for anti-social behaviour.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone’s immediate justice team has spent 36 hours clearing public spaces in Brigstock after teaming up with the parish council.
The immediate justice programme shows communities that there are ‘swift and visible consequences’ for anti-social behaviour by supervising offenders while they complete reparative work in public spaces across the county.
Offenders are referred to the programme by police after being caught committing low-level offences, often for the first time.
The immediate justice team were contacted by Brigstock Parish Council after a request to identify areas that could be repaired by the team.
Immediate justice supervisor Michael then met with the council to discuss what work could be completed in the parish.
Five offenders have spent four hours each and two offenders have spent eight hours each completing work that was identified, which included clearing dead leaves and yew berries that had made a path slippery, tidying posts around a bus stop, cutting back brambles in the main square and clearing gravestones in the cemetery.
Cllr Elizabeth Searle from Brigstock Parish Council said: “The immediate justice team have been very helpful to the village.
"Each time they have been hard working and very tidy.
"The clients have been introduced to me and they have been very helpful.
“We have a couple more projects for them to complete and I would recommend the immediate justice team to other villages.”
As well as the work completed in Brigstock, the team has connected with more than 50 other parish and town councils to make improvements to more than 80 parks, communal areas and community spaces in Northamptonshire.
Commissioner Danielle Stone said: “People deserve to enjoy public spaces that are clean, looked after and safe.
"My immediate justice team has made visible improvements to Brigstock and shown residents that there are consequences for anti-social behaviour.
“I want to encourage parish and town councils that believe their areas could benefit from the team to get in touch so that more improvements can be made to vital community spaces across Northamptonshire.”