No offender vests after threats

The government ordered 10,000 of the Community Payback vests

Community service offenders at two sites in Kent will no longer have to wear high visibility jackets after threats of violence from the public.

Kent Probation Service said the vests, marked "Community Payback", were withdrawn at two projects in Medway after threats to staff and offenders.

The service said it intended to reintroduce the vests within weeks.

The National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) said it was "not surprised" at the incidents.

The vests were introduced for offenders across England and Wales on 1 December.

But offenders in Kent have been wearing high visibility vests for the past three years.

Kent Probation, which supervises about 1,000 offenders on Community Payback every week, would not disclose details of the two incidents.

But it said they affected fewer than 20 offenders.

'Justice seen'

Offenders on Community Payback can be ordered by the courts to carry out unpaid work including picking up litter, renovating public buildings, site clearance and graffiti removal.

"Kent Probation enforces the wearing of vests at all of its Community Payback sites because it is important that justice is seen to be done," said chief officer Sarah Billiald.

"The only exception to the compulsory wearing of vests is if an organisation receiving Community Payback services does not wish the offenders to wear them.

"This is only the case for charity shop projects in Kent."

She said the decision to remove vests was based on thorough risk assessments and in close consultation with the police.

The government ordered 10,000 of the orange bibs across the country, hoping they would increase public confidence in community-based punishments.

Napo said that at the time of the scheme's launch it warned that the wearing of vests might be potentially dangerous for offenders.