Tayside pioneering reform work praised

Cathy Jamieson commends piloting efforts of criminal justice agencies in Tayside and Dundee

News, 9 August 2005

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson has praised criminal justice agencies in Tayside and Dundee for their "forward-thinking attitude" towards reforming services aimed at making the area a safer place to live and work in.

The area is currently involved in pilot projects on fixed penalty notices and community reparation notices for antisocial behaviour; it was among the first to introduce drug testing and treatments orders (DTTOs) to tackle drug misuse; and has a well established community service order programme.

Tayside Police began piloting the fixed penalty notice scheme in April 2005. In the first three months, officers issued more than 600 notices for breach of the peace, urinating in a public place and noise nuisance offences. Offenders have up to 28 days to pay the £40 fine or challenge it.

Community reparation orders, a low-tariff sentencing disposal under which offenders are required to carry out between 10 and 100 hours of unpaid work to benefit the local community, have so far been used seven times in Dundee; while since the introduction of DTTOs in Tayside in 2003, 121 orders have been put in place, with offenders agreeing to regular drug testing and a programme of treatment.

Dundee's community service order programme benefits local charities, voluntary organisations and environmental schemes.

Ms Jamieson said: "While each of these schemes deal with very different groups of offenders - from those involved in low level disorder and vandalism to those who may be involved in drug-related theft - each of them is designed to provide an effective punishment which fits the crime. I want to commend those who have been involved in supporting these schemes to date."