David Hanson MP, Labour’s Justice Minister, writes exclusively for labour.org.uk -

“When people break the law, they must face the consequences. For the most serious offenders – and the most persistent – that means a prison sentence. For other less serious offenders, community sentences are a very good alternative.

Figures show that in terms of cutting re-offending, it is often better to send such offenders on a community punishment rather than a short spell in prison. Labour has done a lot to make these sentences even more effective and tougher as part of an approach which punishes offenders but also gives them the chance of reform.

Offenders sentenced to Community Payback will be literally paying back the community for their crimes by clearing up graffiti, renovating community centres and other hard, physical work.

But for these sentences to be effective, they must also be visible to the community: people must literally be able to see offenders repaying for their crime. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. And the community must have confidence in these sentences.

That’s why we today are introducing orange jackets for all offenders on Community Payback. The jackets will also have the Community Payback logo on them. The idea is to strengthen the effectiveness of community punishments and improve the public’s confidence in them.

Some offenders think when they are given a community punishment they are being let off. And the public can sometimes be forgiven for thinking the same thing too. We are determined to change that, and the introduction of Community Payback jackets is just part of that – we’ll also be looking for more ways of increasing the visibility of these sentences and giving local communities a say in the work offenders are made to do.

This is not about humiliating or shaming offenders. They have done that themselves by committing crimes. It is about showing the community that justice is being done.”