Prisoners may be cleaning up their act in new scheme

Published on Thursday 24 March 2011 15:34

MURDERERS, sex offenders and other prisoners on long sentences could be given work experience cleaning Edinburgh's streets or collecting rubbish under a new scheme being considered by the city council.

Council chiefs are in talks with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) about providing work experience for prisoners who are nearing the end of long prison sentences.

The discussions could lead to the council giving work placements to prisoners who have been jailed for anything from murder and sex offences to fraud and robbery. The proposals are aiming to help make it more likely for offenders to get back into work when they are released, rather than being excluded from work and living off benefits at a cost to the taxpayer.

But critics have warned that extra care will need to be taken to ensure that there is no danger to the communities that the prisoners will be working in.

Councillor Jason Rust, economic development spokesman for the Conservative group on the city council, said: "If these are people that have committed very serious crimes, there needs to be real scrutiny of the types of roles they are allowed to do.

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"There needs to be a lot of vigilance but, in principle, I wouldn't be opposed to it because, as well as punishment being a deterrent, there does need to be some rehabilition as well." Talks have already begun with prison bosses about how any placements could work, but further discussions will have to take place before it is introduced. A council source said talks are continuing with the SPS about "how we can better support prisoners currently in custody at the top end of a long sentence" and said that they could be brought in on "work placements on day release from prison".

The city council has a target of helping 3000 people with "significant barriers" back into work, training or education - including ex-offenders, homeless people, ethnic minorities and drug users.

Despite the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, stating that employers cannot discriminate against ex-offenders, more than three quarters of offenders are unable to gain employment when they are released.

A council spokesman said: "We have a duty as a local authority to help offenders integrate back into society and are in constant dialogue with the Scottish Government, the SPS and other partners on how we can make this happen as smoothly as possible.

"Research has shown that, when ex-offenders gain employment, the risk of their reoffending reduces by up to a half."

The SPS already works with private firms in arranging placements for prisoners nearing the end of their sentence, but it is understood that Edinburgh would be among the first local authorities to agree to provide work experience..