An overgrown section of Irvine Harbour was cleared for the public to enjoy by people carrying out unpaid work as part of community payback orders.
The annual Community Payback Order report published by Community Justice Scotland revealed how people carrying out CPOs have been held to account and supported to reconnect and contribute to their communities.
The North Ayrshire Justice Service team came up with work tasks such as gardening, painting, artistic pieces, community developments, charities and local primary schools to name a few.
Tracy Nimmo, Team Manager of Justice Services, said: “The North Ayrshire Justice Service unpaid work teams have been involved in many community based projects and one off pieces of work in and around North Ayrshire.
“We aid local food banks, parks, and undertake gritting in the winter time alongside filling up the salt bins, and litter pick throughout the rest of the year.
"This work is deeply appreciated within the local community and would go largely undone if not for unpaid work and local volunteers. We have received positive feedback from individuals and groups we have worked with.
“This was a challenging year to say the least with Covid-19 and restrictions on the way we were able to work. Everyone pulled together to make it work in several new ways within teams based in the community. Not only were we in demand to help out in the community, people were keen to get through their hours and complete their orders.”
Other activity carried out as part of unpaid work included supporting people with training, employability, and art projects.
Catherine Dyer, Chair, Community Justice Scotland, said: “Community Payback Order are a vitally important component of community justice.
“They allow people to acknowledge the harms caused by their behaviours, take steps to contribute positively to the community but also to address some of the drivers of their offending.
“Communities right across Scotland have benefitted as a direct result of people fulfilling CPOs, in spite of the unprecedented challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as issues faced by organisations affected by public finance constraints."
Community Justice Scotland will continue to drive improvement by monitoring and supporting all involved in the making and delivery of CPOs after a successful community first approach which helped individuals stop offending.
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