Immediate Justice leads man to new career path
A teenager has spoken of his relief that he can continue his career ambitions after being given a chance to pay back his community instead of getting a criminal record for theft.
The aspiring builder from Bulwell reflected on his mistakes and is now determined to get on the right path after taking part in Immediate Justice.
‘E’, whose name is being kept private, was made aware of the scheme as a way of making up for his wrongdoing, after he was arrested in Nottinghamshire on suspicion of theft.
He was one of a handful of service users involved in a day of action recently which saw a cleanup take place on the Crabtree Estate in his hometown, with work including litter picking, cleaning graffiti and tidying up the surrounding areas including Steadford Close and Clayfield Close.
After completing his three-and-a-half-hour reparation, he is hoping he can put his past behind him as he embarks on the next steps of his life as a qualified brick layer.
E said: “One of the main benefits from taking part in Immediate Justice is how quickly you can make amends for the things you’ve done.
“Being here and making a difference to the community is very rewarding, and means I can create a new path for myself without worrying about having a criminal record.
“Having put the hours in along with other service users, I can now look forward to becoming a builder, which I might not have been able to get the qualifications for had I gone to court instead.”
The Immediate Justice project, which is being spearheaded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, launched in January 2024 and aims to ensure adults and young people who commit antisocial behaviour or low-level offences are made to clean up local streets or take part in other positive community activities – as soon as possible after their offence.
The scheme ensures that individuals who commit low-level offences or engage in antisocial behaviour can swiftly take responsibility for their actions by contributing to the upkeep of local communities.
Nottinghamshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Angela Kandola, who witnessed part of the day of action, said: “The Crabtree Estate is at the heart of the community in Bulwell and having a day of action to tidy up the area is great for community cohesion.
“It shows how impactful the Immediate Justice programme is, with partners coming together to help make a difference.
“We have seen local residents taking notice of the work being done, and this can only help raise awareness of the visible work being done to prevent antisocial behaviour, and make Nottinghamshire safer.”
The Crabtree Farm Community Centre is home to vital services ranging from a food bank to a benefits advice service.
Chair of the Community Centre Maria Shakespeare was recognised for her work there with a British Empire Medal in 2021, having turned its fortunes around by working to recruit volunteers.
She was delighted to see the work taking place in her local area, and hopes it acts as a catalyst for further improvements.
She said: “Everybody wants to live in a safe and clean environment, so seeing all the work done can only enhance that in Bulwell.
“It’s a freezing cold day but nobody has let that deter their efforts, it’s been great to see everybody pulling together.
“Hopefully this is just the start for the Crabtree Estate in being a welcoming place to come for those who live in the community, and people visiting.”
In its first year in operation, the scheme has seen over 450 referrals, 36 of which have been people under the age of 18, from more than 80 force-wide teams and 54 different offence types including antisocial behaviour.
Nottinghamshire Police’s Neighbourhood Sergeant Katie Taylor said: “This day of action shows that we’re aiming to improve the Crabtree Estate for residents, in what is something of a local hub for people here in Bulwell.
“We know the area is a hotspot for fly-tipping and littering due to the fact it is a common walkthrough for people going to the shops, so we wanted to make it more presentable by giving it a tidy-up.
“I spoke to one of the service users and asked how it made him feel, and his response was that it gave him a real sense of purpose and he’s done something worthwhile.
“It’s a visible way of people being held accountable for their actions, while also improving an area which we know is busy and needs attention.”
The Immediate Justice programme is an important tool in tackling antisocial behaviour in Nottinghamshire. Offenders involved in the scheme are required to complete visible, meaningful tasks that give back to the community while teaching valuable lessons about responsibility and the consequences of their actions.
Bulwell Ward Councillor for Nottingham City Council, Cllr Michael Savage said: “It’s a great idea to have the service users working hard to tidy-up an area which has been in need of such work.
“We have had issues with antisocial behaviour but we are hoping with this work we can deter those that may have dropped litter or sprayed graffiti in the past.
“The Immediate Justice programme benefits all parties as it allows those carrying out the work to get back on the right path, while showing our community that work is taking place to keep their area safe and tidy.”
Offenders who are referred to the scheme are supervised by criminal justice Interventions service provider Red Snapper Managed Services Ltd, as they go out to carry out work in neighbourhoods across the city and county.
These projects are designed not only to make public spaces more pleasant and welcoming but also to involve residents in identifying priority areas and helping to guide the work that needs to be done.
The ‘Fix My Street’ platform – which can be accessed on the website of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner - enables residents to highlight areas in need of attention, allowing offenders who have committed antisocial behaviour to make amends by carrying out vital community reparation within days of their offence.
The Fix My Street web page, powered by the SocietyWorks platform, gives residents the opportunity to pinpoint areas in their community that need attention. Once a referral is made, the Immediate Justice team assesses the location and decides on an appropriate course of action.
To report an area near you for a clean-up, or to find out more, visit www.immediatejusticenotts.co.uk.