COMMUNITY PAYBACK TEAMS CLEAN MARGATE

Parts of central Margate – including the High Street – have been cleared of litter by Kent Probation’s Community Payback teams as part of the ongoing Cleansweep operation.

 In Kent, between 2011 and 2012, a total of 255,899 hours of unpaid work was provided to local communities by offenders. The work is worth over £1.5 million in free labour alone.   

 In Thanet, people from Kent Probation’s Community Payback initiative have been actively involved in the multi-agency Cleansweep operation, leading to many areas being cleared of rubbish and weeds.

 Unadopted alleyways in Margate have been included in the Cleansweep operations, with previously rubbish-strewn areas cleared – much to the delight of local residents.

 Environmental Health Manager, Penny Button said: “The supervised Community Payback teams have played an integral role in the ongoing Cleansweep operations that have brought so much benefit to the area.

 “It’s wonderful to see parts of Thanet transformed with streets and alleys swept and cleaned, weeds removed and bags of rubbish removed. The Cleansweep initiative will continue, and we look forward to working in partnership with Kent Probation to arrange work by Community Payback teams that directly benefit the people living in Thanet.”

 Kent Probation’s Director of Community Payback, Suki Binning, said: “Kent Probation is really pleased that the work we have set up with Thanet Council is making a difference to the local community. The work is an excellent example of how we punish offenders on their orders through demanding and visible work."

Kent Probation organises the work for schools, charities and councils. The public can also nominate work for Community Payback teams via the Kent Probation websitewww.kentprobation.org.