Community Service

[chrisgel]

Hi All,
I went down to my allotment for an hour this morning and there were 4 young lads busy re-laying paths and generally tidying up. They were all wearing Hi-Vis vests with the words Community Payback in large lettering on the backs.
Please don't for a minute think I felt any sympathy for them but it got me thinking.
Wouldn't this be classed as "Cruel and Unusual Punishment" under the Human Rights legislation? Surely it's a small step away from making them sit in the stocks and have rotten tomatoes thrown at them.
By the way I'm happy to report they all looked as miserable as h**l.

[woofgang]

I don't think its particularly cruel or unusual

[rockyracoon]

They might think it preferable to 8 weeks in the nick.

[ummmm]

It's always been like that I thought.

[albaqwerty]

They might have been found guilty of spraying grafitti or urinating in public.
Would rather they did CS rather than have tax-payers pay for them for a few weeks in the nick.

[MadMen]

I wouldn't class a bit of gardening as cruel and unusual. I would think I'd got off pretty lightly had I been given this as punishment, and not jail!

I saw a bunch of lads pushing some old folks from the local care home around the other day, also wearing the high vis vests with community packback written on them. I couldn't help but think it was a bit disrespectful to the pensioners.

[rockyracoon]

We gets lots round here clearing out the school grounds on a Saturday, when I was growing up a few of the lads were sent decorating, they quite enjoyed it.

[MadMen]

*pushing them around in wheelchairs

[ummmm]

Maybe the pensioners agreed to it.

[MadMen]

Maybe they did... OR... maybe they had dementia and didn't have a clue.
Either way, I still think it's disrespectful.

[daffy654]

I live near an open prison, the inmates used to be taken around in vans byt eh staff to do DIY and gardening for local pensioners, it did them all the world of good.

[daffy654]

*by the*

[woofgang]

why is it disrespectful if the old people agreed. I bet there are quite a few old people who would really enjoy having a young asbo person at their beck and call.

[SlackAlice]

No problem in my mind. No problem with the 'stocks' either.

[chrisgel]

It was the fact that they had to advertise that they were in fact "criminals" that made me wander. As stated I have no sympathy whatsoever and think it is one of the better ideas that have been dreamt up for punishment. (First started in Burnley I believe)
I'm just surprised that the wearing of clothing advertising themselves as criminals hasn't been challenged. I wasn't aware that humiliation could be a part of the punishment.

[MadMen]

"Did they make any of them do any wheelies?"

Yes, they did. And wheel spins too. Bloody ASBO's! :P

[daffy654]

They wear the high vis with the same wording round here when mowing grass in the graveyards.

[ummmm]

Do you think it's less humiliating in prison? Having to share a cell and perform your bodily functions in front of a stranger...

[MadMen]

"that made me wander."

Where did you go????

I shouldn't worry about them being "humiliated". As above, I'd feel chuffed to bits if I was given gardening over prison!

[chrisgel]

MM - Sorry about the typo, I'll flagellate myself later and I'm not in the least bit worried about them thanks.
I hadn't realised that community payback was given as an alternative to prison, I thought it was an alternative to probation.
I live and "sometimes" learn.