Sentenced to 30 days’ hard knitting
KENNY MacAskill’s community sentences were branded a “joke” last night after it emerged criminals spend their time knitting, embroidering and making candles.
The Justice Secretary’s decision to scrap short-term jail sentences in favour of community-based punishments came under renewed attack as it was revealed offenders are being offered arts and crafts tasks.
Critics said it made a mockery of the SNP minister’s pledges that those spared prison would take part in “some tough manual labour” to repay society.
FREE NEWS UPDATES 24/7...FOLLOW THE SCOTTISH EXPRESS ON TWITTER
The row erupted just a day after courts were encouraged to consider a Community Payback Order for low-level offenders as an alternative to prison sentences of less than three months.
But one local authority is asking female criminals sent to it by the courts if they will complete manual work like litter collection or would rather join an arts and crafts group. Under the Falkirk Council scheme the petty convicts can knit baby clothes, do cross-stitch designs, and make clothes for charities, candles and other goods.
One woman sentenced to 240 hours’ community service is understood to have spent her entire time knitting.
Both council and Scottish Government officials last night defended the scheme, saying it helped offenders learn useful skills. They also claimed the group generated cash for local charities, which was a way of paying back their “debt” to the community.
But opposition politicians reacted with fury, warning Mr MacAskill he risks losing the public’s confidence.
Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said: “People will rightly ask how this squares with Kenny MacAskill’s talk about tough community payback.
“The SNP keep talking about their tough community payment system, but the evidence is just not there.
“These latest revelations make the Justice Secretary’s claims seem like a joke.”
Tory community justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: “I assume that this is what Kenny MacAskill would classify as a tough community sentence.
“Who do these people think they are kidding?
“This is just going to be another chapter in soft-touch justice.”
The latest embarrassing disclosure follows news that offenders were allowed to count tea breaks as part of the community service sentences.
And in December convicts clearing up snow were sent home by Perth and Kinross Council bosses because it was too dangerous for them to work.
Figures have also revealed 2,186 community service orders and almost 6,000 probation orders were flouted last year.
Under new powers which came into force earlier this week communities can now order vandals to clean up their own mess.
The Scottish Government’s new Community Payback Order means offenders will be tasked by locals with removing graffiti or carrying out renovation work.
Mr MacAskill claimed the scheme is intended to act as “payback for the damage they have done”.
Falkirk Council defended the arts and crafts group community sentencing orders, pointing out that many women offenders had “caring responsibilities”.
It said the items created were sold to buy items to benefit the community, or donated to children’s wards for premature babies, including Glasgow Royal Infirmary’s neo-natal unit.
A spokesman added: “Whilst carrying out these tasks, they are in the presence of a supervisor who will challenge behaviours and encourage the women to make changes in their lives to avoid further offending. Also the skills learned benefit their families.”
The Scottish Government last night said councils were now obliged to consult with communities about the type of work being carried out.
A spokesman said: “In this instance, we understand it relates to work within a vulnerable women’s group, with the finished articles going to the neo-natal unit at the hospital.”
