GORDON HENDERSON MP

1st October 2010
Gordon Henderson visits Sittingbourne Probation Office

Local MP, Gordon Henderson spent a full day being shown different aspects of probation work when he visited the Sittingbourne Probation Office on Monday (27th September).

Mr Henderson met a number of probation officers who spoke to him about offender management work, offender supervision, programmes for offenders who are on probation, victim liaison work and education, training and employment programmes for offenders.

They also spoke to him about a local project called Community Payback. This involves a team of offenders who are given community orders as punishment. Mr Henderson had the opportunity to visit one of these projects at the cemetery in Bell Road, where offenders were cutting down undergrowth.

Mr Henderson said:-

"I was incredibly impressed with the professionalism of our local probation staff who do a great job in sometimes very trying circumstances.

"To be honest I hadn't realised how many aspects there are to the probation service and it was good to see probation staff actually in action.

"For instance, I was privileged to be able to sit in on an interview between a Probation Service Officer and one of the offenders she is currently supervising. I was able to chat to the young man concerned in order to better understand how offenders feel about being on probation, rather than being sent to prison. It was quite clear that he considers the terms of his probation as a punishment, but much prefers it to being in prison.

"I was also able to go and see a Community Payback project involving a team of offenders. I have always been somewhat sceptical about the benefits of community service orders as an alternative to prison, but seeing the hard work these men had been involved in and the difference their efforts had made to the look of the cemetery in Bell Road, I have changed my mind.

"Once again I was able to chat to the offenders and they really didn't look upon their community service orders as a soft option. Of course, not every offender is suitable for this type of programme, however, when it is appropriate it makes good sense to keep people out of prison wherever possible, because it costs the taxpayer £40,000 a year to keep an offender in prison.

"By putting offenders to work in the community, not only are we saving money and improving our local environment, but we are making those offenders feel part of their community."