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02/12/2010
Prisoners Reach Out To The Elderly
Low level offenders on community service have taken to the streets of Edinburgh to clear snow and ice from the pavements of a sheltered housing complex for the elderly.
The offenders have been switched from usual work such as cleaning graffiti and restoring fallen gravestones to the more immediate need of assisting vulnerable people in their communities during the current severe weather conditions.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill visited the Stockbridge House day centre for the elderly this morning to see the work being carried out by offenders to clear the snow in an effort to allow residents to get out and about safely.
Other local authority areas are also using community service teams in similar ways and the Scottish Government is reminding all local authorities of the valuable source of labour which is available to help with winter emergency work.
In January this year 2,106 offenders were sent out to help clear snow, contributing 15,465 hours of work to repay their debts to the community.
Mr MacAskill said: "Scotland is experiencing its worst snowfall at this time of year since 1965, but we are seeing the country pulling together to help overcome the extreme conditions.
"Whether it is the army of gritters and snowploughs on our roads, our police and rescue services aiding those in need, or the caring neighbour, everyone is working above and beyond the call of duty to keep Scotland moving and our essential services open.
"Today I've seen offenders paying back communities they have harmed by doing some tough manual labour to help clear pavements of snow for elderly residents to allow them to get out and about safely.
"This is a great example of a council responding quickly and using the available labour power from offenders on community service. These offenders are carrying out manual labour, shovelling snow, laying grit and clearing the streets during the severe conditions, and repaying their dues to the community.
"In Renfrewshire, community service teams are helping to fill 600 grit bins and I know this type of work is being replicated across the country. Community service squads have also been clearing pavements around hospitals, schools and elderly homes.
"As the snow and freezing conditions continue, it is important that we all play a part in pulling together and looking out for those in need."
(BMcN/KMcA)
The offenders have been switched from usual work such as cleaning graffiti and restoring fallen gravestones to the more immediate need of assisting vulnerable people in their communities during the current severe weather conditions.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill visited the Stockbridge House day centre for the elderly this morning to see the work being carried out by offenders to clear the snow in an effort to allow residents to get out and about safely.
Other local authority areas are also using community service teams in similar ways and the Scottish Government is reminding all local authorities of the valuable source of labour which is available to help with winter emergency work.
In January this year 2,106 offenders were sent out to help clear snow, contributing 15,465 hours of work to repay their debts to the community.
Mr MacAskill said: "Scotland is experiencing its worst snowfall at this time of year since 1965, but we are seeing the country pulling together to help overcome the extreme conditions.
"Whether it is the army of gritters and snowploughs on our roads, our police and rescue services aiding those in need, or the caring neighbour, everyone is working above and beyond the call of duty to keep Scotland moving and our essential services open.
"Today I've seen offenders paying back communities they have harmed by doing some tough manual labour to help clear pavements of snow for elderly residents to allow them to get out and about safely.
"This is a great example of a council responding quickly and using the available labour power from offenders on community service. These offenders are carrying out manual labour, shovelling snow, laying grit and clearing the streets during the severe conditions, and repaying their dues to the community.
"In Renfrewshire, community service teams are helping to fill 600 grit bins and I know this type of work is being replicated across the country. Community service squads have also been clearing pavements around hospitals, schools and elderly homes.
"As the snow and freezing conditions continue, it is important that we all play a part in pulling together and looking out for those in need."
(BMcN/KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers will gradually die out during the evening. A cold night with long clear spells leading to a touch of frost in places. Light winds. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
