Wear a 'Vest Of Shame' or Go To Prison?

Criminals serving Community Service will have to
wear orange bibs, says Jack Straw



In an exclusive interview, Justice Secretary Jack Straw revealed he is making it compulsory to put wrong-doers into “vests of shame” from next week.

He is pressing ahead despite fears Guantanamo-style outfits will humiliate the wearers. A total of 10,000 high- visibility tabards with “community payback” emblazoned across the back have been ordered by the Ministry of Justice. The words are in purple and there will also be a “community payback” logo on the front. The uniforms will become a common sight as offenders wear them while doing manual labour on Britain’s streets.

Probation officers are expected to attack the move as demeaning to offenders and dangerous as they could lead to attacks. But Government Respect Tsar Louise Casey who has headed a major inquiry into restoring public confidence in the criminal justice system said it was time to make sentences tougher. Sitting alongside Mr Straw, she said: “What is important is that people who break the law face a consequence and that isn’t pleasant." Ms Casey added that as well as pushing offenders it would also deter other youngsters from carrying out crimes. She tells a story of how in a trial scheme in Birmingham, offenders were made to clean toilets in a community centre. “One of the kids said ‘The last thing I want to do is clean those toilets. I think I’ll steer clear of trouble. This is why visibility is so important.”

Mr Straw also said reforming community sentences would have a big impact on jail overcrowding.

She tells a story of how in a trial scheme in Birmingham, offenders were made to clean toilets in a community centre. “One of the kids said ‘The last thing I want to do is clean those toilets. I think I’ll steer clear of trouble. This is why visibility is so important.”

Eighthours wrote:

She tells a story of how in a trial scheme in Birmingham, offenders were made to clean toilets in a community centre. “One of the kids said ‘The last thing I want to do is clean those toilets. I think I’ll steer clear of trouble. This is why visibility is so important.”

Yeah, right. A kiddie criminal in Birmingham really said that. Really used the word "those" before toilets, rather than "them". Really said those last two sentences. Honest.

What utter lies.

I do support the concept of these vests, although I'd like more humiliating stuff to be written on them.

Eighthours wrote:

She tells a story of how in a trial scheme in Birmingham, offenders were made to clean toilets in a community centre. “One of the kids said ‘The last thing I want to do is clean those toilets. I think I’ll steer clear of trouble. This is why visibility is so important.”

Yeah, right. A kiddie criminal in Birmingham really said that. Really used the word "those" before toilets, rather than "them". Really said those last two sentences. Honest.

What utter lies.

Hime123 wrote:

Eighthours wrote:

She tells a story of how in a trial scheme in Birmingham, offenders were made to clean toilets in a community centre. “One of the kids said ‘The last thing I want to do is clean those toilets. I think I’ll steer clear of trouble. This is why visibility is so important.”

Yeah, right. A kiddie criminal in Birmingham really said that. Really used the word "those" before toilets, rather than "them". Really said those last two sentences. Honest.

What utter lies.

They are borderline northern so they would probably just miss out the words that join the sentence.

"Last thing I want to do is clean, toilet".

Hime123 wrote:

Eighthours wrote:

She tells a story of how in a trial scheme in Birmingham, offenders were made to clean toilets in a community centre. “One of the kids said ‘The last thing I want to do is clean those toilets. I think I’ll steer clear of trouble. This is why visibility is so important.”

Yeah, right. A kiddie criminal in Birmingham really said that. Really used the word "those" before toilets, rather than "them". Really said those last two sentences. Honest.

What utter lies.

They are borderline northern so they would probably just miss out the words that join the sentence.

"Last thing I want to do is clean, toilet".

Hexx wrote:

Eighthours wrote:

She tells a story of how in a trial scheme in Birmingham, offenders were made to clean toilets in a community centre. “One of the kids said ‘The last thing I want to do is clean those toilets. I think I’ll steer clear of trouble. This is why visibility is so important.”

Yeah, right. A kiddie criminal in Birmingham really said that. Really used the word "those" before toilets, rather than "them". Really said those last two sentences. Honest.

What utter lies.

I do support the concept of these vests, although I'd like more humiliating stuff to be written on them.

I like the way the story is about how community service (i.e. bog cleaning) was what she didn't want to do, not that she just didn't want to do it in a vest.

But "This is why visibility is so important."...

~Earl Grey~ wrote:Or it might just become a badge of honour like ASBOs. In which case let's just machine-gun these strawberry floaters into a great strawberry floating hole as they are nothing more than a liability to the entire human race.

~Earl Grey~ wrote:...Or it might just become a badge of honour like ASBOs. In which case let's just machine-gun these strawberry floaters into a great strawberry floating hole as they are nothing more than a liability to the entire human race.