Clearing overgrown woodlands, graffiti cleaning, repainting community buildings and building and planting community gardens have all been carried out across the district since Braintree District Community Safety Partnership put its POD (Prevention, Outreach and Development) Vehicle into action.

The POD vehicle was officially launched on 11 February 2011 by Ken Caley, Chair of Criminal Justice Board and Chief Crown prosecutor, joined by Brooks Newmark MP, Cllr Wendy Schmitt, Cabinet Member for Clean, Green and Safe, Braintree District Council; Stephen Nicolas, Chair of Community Safety Partnership; and Jill Richardson and Katherine Brown from Essex Probation.

Braintree District Council in partnership with Essex Criminal Justice Board, secured funding for the vehicle using cash and assets seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The POD has been used across the Braintree District including work in the Braintree East Area for the Braintree East Pride in our Patch Group and Friends of Ley Wood.  Without the POD, such work would not have been able to take place.

Unpaid workers have clocked up over 6337 individual man hours across the district, undertaking activities such as clearing overgrown woodlands, graffiti cleaning, repainting community buildings and building and planting community gardens.

Ken Caley, Chair of Essex Criminal Justice Board and Chief Crown Prosecutor for Essex said "Taking the cash out of crime through the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) is an important target for the Crown Prosecution Service and the Police working together to achieve this.  By seizing criminal assets we can really make sure that crime does not pay, while also putting some of these assets to good use in the community to prevent re-offending and rehabilitate offenders.

"Essex Criminal Justice Board was able to use more than £10,000 from a national pot of £4 million, under the Community Cashback scheme to support projects across the county.  In addition to the Braintree POD vehicle, we help fund an SOS bus at Basildon, a Respect programme for young people from the Colchester area and repairs and improvements to a community centre in Epping Forest.  All schemes were nominated by members of the public and all will make a real difference in their communities.

The multi-purpose vehicle, with on-board toilet facilities, can double as a base for operations and so enable an increase in the amount and type of unpaid work undertaken by offenders in our District.

Wendy Schmitt stated "This is a really exciting project as it helps communities make significant environmental improvements to local areas and adds to what we can achieve through the Green Heart of Essex campaign.  Offenders get an opportunity to make a contribution back into the local community and residents can see the criminal justice system in action and benefiting their area."

Karen Brown, chair of the Braintree East Pride in our Patch Group commented "Because of where our group is located, the Community Payback team would not have been able to work in our area without the POD vehicle.  They have carried out such good work clearing the Ley Wood, which we could not have achieved by ourselves in such a short amount of time.

If you have a community project in your area and could use the supprot of the Community Payback Team, contact Christine Robb, Community Safety and Development Officer on 01376 552525 or email communitydevelopment@braintree.gov.uk