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Offenders tackle Maida Vale grot spot
A team of offenders has spruced up a Maida Vale garden in a bid to make up for their crimes.
The 'community payback scheme' is made up of six offenders, who will tackle small but neglected grot spots across the borough.
The team's first project involved weeding in Tollgate Gardens, Maida Vale, and this weekend the unit is expected to blitz Hunts Court, near Leicester Square, where offenders are due to clean out rubbish and give the area a lick of paint.
Westminster Council already runs community payback schemes in the Churchill Gardens Estate, in Churchill Gardens Road, Pimlico, and Mozart Estate, in Third Avenue, Queen's Park, in partnership with the London Probation Service, the Metropolitan Police Service and CityWest Homes.
Now the council has hired a minibus to transport offenders to where their efforts are most needed.
Westminster Council's cabinet member for community protection Cllr Daniel Astaire said: "The great thing about the mobile team is that they can go anywhere - and quickly.
"If we hear an area needs improving we can send in the team straight away and make use of the workforce we have much more effectively.
"Community payback allows offenders to repay their debts to society through unpaid work. But as well as being a punishment it teaches offenders new skills for a life away from crime, instils community values and is of genuine benefit to local people."
Residents can recommend areas in need of improvements for community payback projects by calling Westminster's Civic Watch team on 020 7641 1085.
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