Justice: seen to be done

PEOPLE will be able to have their say on how justice is carried out by nominating sites for offenders to clean up.

The borough is one of 54 Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Pioneer Areas where people can vote on what work offenders should carry out.

The scheme receiving the most votes will be undertaken first by offenders on Community Payback sentences.

It follows the launch of branded high-visibility jackets for offenders on Community Payback in December last year.

Local areas which can be voted for are:

l Glodwick: clean up fly tipping and cut back overgrown shrubs

l Failsworth: clear rubbish and overgrown areas by Cooke Street, Pole Lane and Ashton Road

l Copster Hill Road: clear fly tipping and litter, and cut back the overgrowth

l Clarksfield: clear alleyways of litter, remove dumped rubbish and cut back the overgrowth

l Royton: rubbish removed from land off Turfland Avenue.

To cast your vote, go to: www.direct.gov.uk/CommunityPayback. Voting closes on April 24 and successful projects will be announced in June.

Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw said: “It’s crucial that the public — the taxpayer — has a say in what community punishments offenders receive.”

Every year, more than 55,000 criminals receive Community Payback sentences, carrying out more than six million hours of physical unpaid work.