THE public across North Yorkshire is being given the power to decide how offenders should serve their community orders.

Residents are being offered the chance to choose the type of unpaid work such offenders should be ordered to do.

Possible projects range from graffiti removal, litter clearing and repairing playground equipment, to bringing derelict areas back into use and renovating church yards.

The North Yorkshire probation service officially launches its Community Payback scheme - part of a national initiative - next week.

Every year, across the country, local communities benefit from more than five million hours of compulsory unpaid work performed by offenders under the supervision of the probation service.

Last year, in North Yorkshire alone, offenders completed more than 85,000 hours of unpaid labour supporting local projects and initiatives - equating to almost £430,000-worth of unpaid work.

Now, local residents are being encouraged to join forces and help make their community a better place to live in by becoming actively involved in the selection of unpaid work projects.

The projects involve work which would not otherwise be carried out, and combines punishment and hard work for the offender with benefits for the local community.

The chief officer of the North Yorkshire probation service, Roz Brown, said: "Community Payback will encourage people to feel involved in and informed about what goes on in their neighbourhoods.

"As a result, the local area will benefit and we hope people will take a long-term, pro-active interest in offenders' work and how projects are developing.

"Projects must meet certain criteria.

"For example, they must take place on public land, must not involve work which would normally be done by paid employees and must meet certain health and safety requirements.

"But within these guidelines there is plenty of scope for people to choose exactly what happens in their area."

People are being given the chance to nominate projects they would like to see carried out in their area via www.nyprobation or by contacting one of the community service offices.