Prisoners to tidy up city centre

Prisoners will help clear up acts of vandalism

Prisoners from Leyhill Prison near Bristol are to help clean up the streets in the city centre.

Groups of between four and 10 inmates will clear up litter, remove graffiti, plant new trees, and clear debris.

The project started after residents were asked about which areas needed to be spruced up.

All inmates from the Category D jail will be assessed before being allowed to go out and take part in the scheme, say police.

'Reduce fear'

A pilot project in St Paul's has been praised by people living nearby, who said it had made a huge improvement to the area.

Ch Insp Ian Smith added: "Most of the inmates are at the end of their sentences or are deemed to be trustworthy and want to give something back to society.

"They are able to use their skills for the purposes of helping out with regeneration and environmental projects in the inner city - that helps reduce the fear of crime."

None of the inmates on the scheme had lived, worked or committed their offences in areas where they would be working.