Offenders give back to communities through safety and wildlife projects
Collaborative efforts with probation service transform local areas
People carrying out community service work are helping to improve safety, tackle anti-social behaviour and support wildlife across West Northamptonshire.
The Community Payback Team, part of the East of England Probation Service in Northamptonshire, has been working with West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) on a range of projects aimed at creating cleaner and safer public spaces for residents, students and visitors.
One of the latest schemes focused on the former railway line running alongside Beckett Park towards the University of Northampton. The route had been identified by students as an area where they felt unsafe because of dense vegetation and hidden areas that could potentially attract anti-social behaviour or criminal activity.
Over the summer, ex-offenders cleared overgrown vegetation along the path, improving visibility and making the route feel more open and secure ahead of the arrival of new and returning students for Freshers' Week.
The project also had an environmental benefit, with branches removed during the clearance work reused to create windbreaks and bird nesting habitats.
Community payback crews have also supported work elsewhere in Northampton. Clearance projects have been carried out at Harding Terrace and Upper Priory Street following concerns about drug-related activity and sex work in those areas.
More recently, teams have been working on Emporium Way, where vegetation management has helped improve CCTV sightlines and support enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order.
Councillor Charlie Hastie, deputy leader of West Northamptonshire Council and cabinet member for housing and communities, said the partnership was delivering benefits for both communities and those carrying out the work.
"It gives people the opportunity to make good where they've done wrong and make a positive contribution to their community," he said.
"We've seen overgrown areas cleared, spaces opened up and places made safer and more welcoming. It's a win-win situation."
He said tackling anti-social behaviour remained a key priority for the authority.
"People don't want to live in or spend time in unpleasant environments," he said.
"Anti-social behaviour has become more tolerated in some situations and that's something we need to reverse. We want communities to feel safe, clean and welcoming."