OFFENDERS were put to work yesterday — clearing pavements and pathways at Fort William.
The four offenders removed snow and ice on areas around a community centre, sheltered housing and shops.
David MacKay, Highland Council’s community service officer, said: “We try to find offenders unpaid work within the community which benefits society.
“With the recent snow we approached the council’s transport, environmental and community services department to offer some help in pavement clearing around elderly and vulnerable people’s homes which would help them get out and about.”
Highland Council leader Michael Foxley said: “This is a great support to our more elderly people in Fort William who can often be concerned about leaving the house when it is snowy and icy underfoot. I am sure that this will make a huge difference for many people in the area in keeping them mobile and allowing them to go about their daily business.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government is under pressure to ensure more offenders carrying out community service are asked to clear snow and ice from roads and pavements.
Conservative leader Annabel Goldie called for action after First Minister Alex Salmond revealed yesterday that only 165 convicted criminals have been required to tackle the Arctic weather conditions across Scotland.
He told MSPs at Holyrood that while more than 5,000 community service orders have been handed out by courts recently, only 2,500 people were currently working in the community.
Miss Goldie claimed the Scottish Government had “not gripped” the challenge of using criminals serving community service orders to clear snow and ice from the outset.
Mr Salmond acknowledged it was “sensible” to require offenders to clear snow as payback for their crimes and a “substantial effort” to do so was being made.
His official spokesman said later that the government would encourage community service departments to divert offenders away from their normal duties to help keep Scotland moving.