Community payback is a tough and visible consequence for people who have committed a crime. Offenders can be sentenced by the courts to carry out up to 300 hours unpaid work for the community and in Bedfordshire, more than 100,000 hours of community payback are completed every year by offenders on a community sentence.

Community payback projects range from litter-removal to clearing dense undergrowth and environmental projects through repairing and redecorating community centres to removing graffiti. Offenders usually work as part of a team, monitored by a supervisor, and will work all day with short breaks, although there are some opportunities for individual placements.

Bedfordshire Probation's Community Payback team assess project ideas submitted by the public and other organisations for suitability and for health and safety implications.

More information

Community payback in Totternhoe

Bedfordshire Police offer advice on:

• Safer homes
• Mobile phones
• Internet security
• Credit card fraud
• Personal safety
• Vehicle security

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust offer advice and information on staying safe and personal safety. 

Vulnerable and older people can get a free security check and home improvements from the Bobby Van team, supported by the Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust and Bedfordshire Police.  A visit from the Bobby Van will improve your home's security and provide advice to prevent bogus callers from achieving their aim. 

For more information please contact 01234 842619, 01234 842612 or 01582 39403.

We also have more information on our website about staying safe.

Fire kills: you can find out about fire safety in your home, and fire safety outside your home on the Direct.gov website

Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service: locally in Bedfordshire you can get help and assistance via Bedfordshire & Luton Fire and Rescue Service including information about home safety checks.

Watch schemes are locally run groups. Members of our community work together to support, make a difference and assist their local areas. To be effective against crime they plan action in co-operation with the police, and other partners such as the Community Safety Partnership.

Watch schemes in the area include:

• Business watch
• Countryside watch
• Faith watch
• Horse watch
• Neighbourhood watch
• Pub watch
• Schools watch
• Student watch

Further information

Watch schemes in Central Bedfordshire

Neighbourhood watch national website

Street watch is a scheme run by the local community with members of the scheme 'walking' their local area, taking responsibility and helping to tackle low level issues that impact most in their communities 

Community Safety Groups are run by the local community who take an active interest in their area.  Support is given by the group for projects to assist their immediate area and there is liaison with partners agencies such as the Police, Local Authority and Fire Service in areas that need to be tackled together (fire hazards, crime hotspots, parking issues etc). 

To find out more about Community Safety Groups please contact Community Safety on 0300 300 8302.  To see the type of joined up work that takes place, please click here for the Ampthill Community Safety Group who are one of our active Community Safety Groups in Central Bedfordshire.