Criminals could fill potholes and clean bins under government plans
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Government plan could see convicts stack shelves instead of serving time
- The UK government is considering a plan to have criminals sentenced to community service assigned jobs by councils, performing tasks like filling potholes and collecting bins.
- The proposal aims to alleviate prison overcrowding and is part of a review commissioned by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
- Under the plan, convicts sentenced to less than a year behind bars could also work for private companies, such as supermarkets, instead of serving time.
- The government's goal is to make community service a more impactful punishment, with potential for earned wages to go towards victim restitution.
- This comes as UK prisons face capacity issues, despite recent efforts to reduce overcrowding.