People responsible for antisocial behaviour and low-level crime have been rolling up their sleeves today to help transform a community sensory garden in Carlton.
Offenders taking part in the county’s Immediate Justice scheme descended on Carlton Hill Sensory Garden as part of a major day of action aimed at improving the area for local residents.
Armed with gardening tools and litter pickers, participants have been carrying out highly visible community clean-up work designed to show justice being done while giving something back to the neighbourhood.
But today’s project is about more than tidying up.
The initiative marks the launch of a new enhanced Immediate Justice programme in Greater Carlton that combines community payback-style work with training, mentoring and support aimed at breaking the cycle of repeat offending.
Immediate Justice, run by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, offers eligible first-time and lower-level offenders the chance to repair the harm caused by their actions through practical work in the community.
That can include removing graffiti, picking litter, restoring public spaces and helping community groups, often within days of an offence taking place.
At Carlton Hill Sensory Garden, participants are helping improve a space used and enjoyed by local residents, providing a visible example of offenders putting something positive back into the community.
The new Greater Carlton model, however, also focuses on what happens after the work is finished.
Backed by funding from the Greater Carlton Pride in Place Programme, participants will have access to a range of training opportunities, including First Aid at Work, Food Hygiene, Customer Service Skills and Digital Skills qualifications.
Business start-up support will also be available, alongside youth mentoring, careers guidance and free counselling for people who need additional help.
David S Stewart OBE, chair of the Greater Carlton Neighbourhood Board, said the programme responded directly to public concerns about justice being visible in local communities.
He said: “The community can not only see reparation for crimes committed but there is a programme in place to provide education and training and reduce reoffending.
“The Immediate Justice scheme has a proven track record within the county.”
More than 2,500 referrals have already been made to the Immediate Justice programme across Nottinghamshire, with participants completing thousands of hours of reparation work in local communities.
Recent projects have included cleaning graffiti, restoring public spaces and tackling issues reported directly by residents.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said today’s work showed how justice could be both visible and constructive.
He said: “Residents can see people out in their community carrying out meaningful work and improving a space which belongs to everybody.
“But what particularly excites me about this enhanced programme is that we’re going a step further.
“Giving people access to training, employment support, mentoring and counselling can help address some of the reasons they may repeatedly come into contact with the criminal justice system and give them a genuine opportunity to choose a different path.”
Gedling Borough Council leader Councillor John Clarke MBE said the expanded offer would help people gain skills, improve their chances of finding work and build brighter futures.
Residents are now being encouraged to suggest other locations that could benefit from Immediate Justice projects through the scheme’s online reporting service.
Proposed sites are reviewed and, where suitable, can be assigned as future placements, with before-and-after photographs published so local people can see the difference offenders have made.
