Website of the UK government

Suggest a project for Community Payback

If you live in England or Wales, you can suggest projects that will improve your neighbourhood by contacting your local Probation Service.

You can suggest a project by filling in a simple form online.

When you've completed the form, you local Probation Service will get back in touch to let you know whether or not it has been accepted.

• Suggest a Community Payback project online Opens new window

How Community Payback works

Community Payback can be given to offenders as part of a 'community sentence'. A 'community sentence' means that the offender may have to carry out up to 300 hours of unpaid work. This work benefits the community - and means the offenders pay back the community for their crimes.

Projects can include:

• removing graffiti
• picking up litter
• repairing and decorating community centres
• clearing undergrowth from paths and other public areas
• working on environmental projects

Offenders must wear bright orange high-visibility jackets, marked 'Community Payback' while they're working. The jackets mean you can see that they're paying back for their crimes.

Between April 2008 and March 2009, more than 100,000 offenders completed over eight million hours of work.

Community Payback in your area

If you’d like to get more details about how Community Payback works in your area, check your local Probation Service website.

Use the link below and enter your postcode in the search box. Scroll down through the results and you’ll find a link to your local Probation Service’s website under the heading ‘Community Payback’.

• Find your local Probation Service Opens new window