Offenders help restore public spaces and tackle graffiti in town as part of initiative

THE Safer Penzance Partnership has launched an initiative which puts offenders to work erasing graffiti in the town.

- by CORNISHMAN REPORTER

The collaboration, involving Cornwall Council, the Safer Cornwall organisation, the Penzance Business Improvement District (BID), the Probation Service and the town council, aims to make the town safer and more visually appealing.

Offenders who have been sentenced to work within the Probation Service's Community Payback scheme have been painting over graffiti, with the consent of the affected businesses.

So far nine graffiti sites have been targeted, in key locations including Bread Street, Market Jew Street and Causewayhead.

The project got off the ground thanks to a grant of £1,000 from Cornwall councillor Tim Dwelly’s Community Chest allocation.

Each Cornwall councillor is assigned a budget to make small grants to projects in their area.