Community service is getting back on track across Dumfries and Galloway after the pandemic called a halt to the work offenders normally carried out.
Criminals hit with community payback orders (CPO) at court have resumed physical work outdoors and are participating in unpaid tasks such as paint jobs, and gardening.
Nearly 10,000 hours of standard community service had to be written off in the region in 2020/21 due to strict Covid lockdown rules.
A switch was then made to a different programme which included online learning courses and connecting with third sector support agencies.
The approach resulted in the region recording the highest number of CPOs per 10,000 population imposed, at a rate of 47.6, compared to the Scottish average of 21.2.
At the council’s social work committee Provost Tracey Little said: “These local figures are fabulous, and it’s always nice to hear the comments and stories from service users themselves.
“Where we have the types of unpaid projects, I was just wondering how close we are to getting back to fulfilling the hours within community organisations following on from Covid?
Catherine Knipe, manager for justice social work, replied: “Whilst I’m reluctant to say it’s ‘business as normal’, it’s a lot more recognisable as business as normal. We have had to have an overall significant shift toward outdoor working, and the areas where we’re probably still playing catch up is in terms of personal placements.”
