Independent investigation into Community Payback Orders

AN INVESTIGATION into whether or not Community Payback Orders (CPOs) are working is to be investigated by an outside body.

The flagship scheme, launched by the Scottish Government in 2011 giving sheriffs the power to sentence criminals do work in the community, is under review.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson asked First Minister Alex Salmond how much work handed down to offenders has been completed, a question he did not answer.

Ms Davidson said the Government’s own justice figures revealed that during 2011-12 more than 10,000 CPOs were handed out, of which 7,763 involved an element of unpaid work.

Of these, less than a third 2,536 were completed. It also emerged more than 2,600 of the 7,763 orders were officially terminated last year, with about a third signed off without being completed.