Offenders work to clear Eastbourne beach of harmful plastics

Offenders serving community sentences have helped remove harmful waste from Eastbourne beach as part of the Marine Conservation Society's national Great British Beach Clean event. 

Supervised Community Payback teams cleared the beach on both sides of the historic pier and collected bags of rubbish, including plastic cutlery, food packaging and discarded cigarette butts. 

Community Payback is the delivery of unpaid work requirements ordered by courts as part of a community sentence, ensuring people on probation repay their debt to society by helping the communities they have harmed. 

Litter left on beaches can have a serious impact on wildlife and coastal environments. Plastic items can break down into microplastics, while cigarette butts release chemicals and toxins that can cause long lasting damage to coastal environments and threaten wildlife. 

Lizzie Price, Beachwatch Manager at the Marine Conservation Society said:  “We really value offenders playing an active role in protecting our seas and communities.  

"Clearing litter from our beaches is a practical way to contribute to both the local environment and wider conservation efforts and helps to gather important information on what’s washing up on our shores.  

"From sewage-related items such as wet wipes to plastic bottles, recording each piece of litter helps us better understand ocean pollution and supports us in campaigning for cleaner seas and a healthier planet.” 

As well as supporting efforts to remove harmful pollution from local beaches, the unpaid work helps offenders get into a working routine and gain practical skills.   

Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Catherine McKinnell said:  "Projects like this ensure that offenders give back to the communities they have harmed through meaningful work that delivers a positive impact locally.   

"Through doing the unpaid work they are developing skills, work experience and positive habits that can help them secure employment and reduce reoffending. 

“Delivering punishment that also works to cut crime will make our streets safer and better protect the public.” 

Community sentences are made up of fourteen possible requirements that those convicted of offences are expected to meet, which include restrictions such as unpaid work they must carry out in the community, exclusion zones, electronically monitored curfew, and treatment programmes. If not met, offenders risk being sent back to court.  

The expansion of punishments outside of prison, like community sentences, is part of wider landmark sentencing reforms implemented by the government to ensure order in the prison system and that we always have cells available for the most dangerous criminals. 

The government is making long-term fixes to the prison and probation crisis by building 14,000 prison places and investing £700 million to strengthen the probation service – so that we can lock up more dangerous offenders, ensure punishments cut crime, protect victims, and make our streets safer. 

Individuals and organisations can suggest local projects for Community Payback teams to support. To nominate a project, submit a proposal through the GOV.UK Community Payback project portal here: https://www.gov.uk/