2nd October 2007
Scrapping
of Reparation Orders, a “Slap in the Face” for Decent Communities - McNeil
MSP
for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has condemned SNP Justice Secretary,
Kenny MacAskill, for scrapping a pilot scheme in Greenock to force neds to clean
up the communities they ruin.
Community
Reparation Orders (CROs) were created and piloted by the Labour-led Executive as
a way of ensuring individuals make amends to their local community by carrying
out 10 to 100 hours of unpaid work.
The
unpaid work was often spent cleaning up the mess or vandalism they caused in the
first place.
The
move comes as the SNP are considering ending six month sentences, with criminals
instead serving their sentences in the community.
Mr
McNeil said:
“It’s
not good enough to scrap this weapon against antisocial behaviour in Greenock
and fail to put an alternative in place.
“The
SNP already want to let criminals escape jail for a series of offences and this
is just their latest slap in the face for the decent people whose lives are made
a misery by crime and antisocial behaviour.
“If
criminals are no longer to be sent to prison, or made to make reparations to
their communities, what on earth are they supposed to do instead?
“It’s
only right that people who behave in this selfish, thuggish manner are made to
undo some of the damage they have done to their communities. Why
should the victims, the hardworking taxpayers in our community, be forced to pay
for the damage to be made good?”
SNP
Justice Minister Kenny McAskill MSP confirmed in a parliamentary answer that the
Community Reparation Order (CRO) pilot would be scrapped in December. The
minister failed to give an assurance or timeline for any other planned scheme to
replace it.
ENDS
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