Become a Member
Stephen Pollard

ByStephen Pollard, Stephen Pollard

Opinion

Commit a crime for free skills training

February 7, 2008 24:00
1 min read

I can barely believe my ears. I'm listening here (the item starts at 22 minutes, 25 seconds) to a report on the Today programme about a new pilot scheme in Derbyshire for criminals, called Skills Builder. Instead of going on 'traditional' community service, offenders are sent on a skills programme - electrics, plumbing, etc.

Some probabtion chap is saying that becaue the offenders tend not to have connected at school, it's far more useful than usual community service.

What a genius idea: break the law and get free job training. That's not punishment, it's a reward. But then punishment is a dirty word in some parts of the criminal justice system.