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Thousands of offenders in England and Wales are to wear high visibility vests while doing community service.

Ministers have ordered 10,000 orange bibs with "Community Payback" on the back identifying them to the public.

The government hopes the uniforms will increase confidence in community-based punishments which are seen by some as a soft option compared to prison.

But probation groups warn the vests could "increase the risk" of offenders becoming targets for attacks.

Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, told the BBC's Today programme: "Wearing the so-called vests of shame introduces unnecessary risk."

There were already instances where offenders doing community service had been targeted by rival gangs for attack, he said, and in two cases offenders had been shot.


FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME

More from Today programme

He also said there was no evidence that shaming worked and that if offenders were concerned for their safety, compliance would drop and cases would end up back in the courts.

"The real intention of the vests is to make the government look tougher on crime and to demean the offenders," he added.

But Justice Secretary Jack Straw defended the use of the vests and said if there were genuine concerns for the safety of staff or offenders in particular cases, consideration would be given as to whether the jackets were appropriate.

"I have looked at the details of the attacks that have taken place. Always they have taken place not because the offender has been wearing any kind of visible clothing... but because they are known to their attacker," he told the BBC's Today programme.

He added: "The purpose of having these high-visibility jackets is, above all, to strengthen the confidence of the public in community punishments because too few of the public believe at the moment these are effective and are other than a soft option."

'Seeing the consequences'

Government crime adviser Louise Casey also said it was important for the public to feel they were being listened to.

She told GMTV: "You have to get your head round the fact, whose side are we on in all of this? Are we on the side of the criminals or are we on the side of the public?



Why should we be pointed out like saying we are all criminals and stuff?
Young offender

Young offenders talk to Five Live

"If we have got to get the public to come forward, give evidence, report crime and feel confident the British justice system is on their side they've got to see consequences for criminals. End of story."

Young offenders helping to clear a towpath by the River Thames near Hampton Court Palace in south-west London were some of the first to wear the new bibs on Monday.

One told BBC Five Live: "We have got a board... already saying who we are, so why should we be pointed out like saying we are all criminals and stuff?

"People know it already, so why make it even worse."

But another did not object, saying the group had already been wearing yellow ones anyway.

"It is better then being inside [prison] so anything will do," he said.

Tsukiyumi wrote:Strange, it's always been like that here; people doing community service like picking up trash, etc. wear orange jumpsuits.

Mikey wrote:Around me, offenders doing community service in roadside situations, "chain gangs" (although they really aren't anymore,) public gorunds details, etc. all wear orange vests for a simple, non-punishment related reason - so they don't get hit by traffic.

Mark wrote:...BIG signs on the back... "WIFE BEATER"...

stitch626 wrote:...Ehem... sorry. Those are my two most hated criminals.

Tsukiyumi wrote:

stitch626 wrote:...Ehem... sorry. Those are my two most hated criminals.

I also have issues with those kind of people.