2:14pm Saturday 25th October 2008
By Tanya O'Rourke
Danny Bennett says he has lost count of the number of criminal offences he has committed since the age of 13.
His unenviable tally includes theft, criminal damage and breaching community orders – but now he reckons to have put his past behind him, and the 22-year-old says it’s all down to a new community order scheme which is being trialled in Bradford as an alternative to short-term prison sentences for petty criminals.
The Intensive Alternative to Custody (IAC) scheme which began in August involves a full timetable of unpaid work placements, home visits, meetings with victims and inclusion on drug rehabilitation programmes.
Each order is tailor-made to suit the requirements of the particular offender.
Danny, of Cliffe Road, Undercliffe, has been put on a 12 month order after being prosecuted for theft from a motor vehicle.
He said: “I’m trying to sort myself out. I never used to turn up for my appointments, I was young.
“I’ve been in custody and I don’t want to go back.”
Danny has been involved with maintenance work at St Joseph’s Church off Manchester Road and is working at the Cecil Avenue allotments in Little Horton.
He said: “I’m being kept really busy. It’s giving me something useful to do.
“This is the furthest I’ve ever got on an order. I’m sticking at it, the judge said I could have got 18 months in prison and I don’t want that.
“If you’re on a short sentence you’re not getting an education or working, you’re just twiddling your thumbs until you come out.”
About 30 offenders from Bradford have been given IAC orders since August.
Neil Maloney, assistant chief officer for the West Yorkshire Probation Service, said: “Bradford is one of only seven cities in the country taking part in this scheme.
He said: “Around 60 per cent of offenders given short sentences re-offend. We want to reduce that and for the offenders to give something back to the community. We will be working with our partners at the police, the courts and the council and various community projects.
“We are not naive altruists, we’re trying to understand the reality of short-term sentences. We’re driven by reducing re-offending.
“It is about moving on.”
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